Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,411 in Byron Bay, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Byron Bay, Australia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Byron Bay
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,411
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,411 in Byron Bay versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Byron Bay $2,411
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,461 in Byron Bay versus $2,255 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Byron Bay $3,461
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,512 in Byron Bay versus $3,180 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Byron Bay $4,512
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Living in Byron Bay is roughly 81% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Byron Bay is 78% above, Ubud, Bali is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.63 A$25.64
$3.38 Rp 61.1K
421.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2 A$115
$34.65 Rp 627.3K
128.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 A$16.59
$5.57 Rp 100.9K
104.85%
Cappuccino
$3.81 A$5.54
$2.62 Rp 47.4K
45.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 A$2.05
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
-8.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 A$3.65
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
292.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 A$11.59
$2.67 Rp 48.3K
198.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.55 A$12.43
$4.26 Rp 77.2K
100.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 A$2.40
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
13.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 A$3.86
$2.29 Rp 41.5K
15.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.39
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
109.91%
Eggs
$4.76 A$6.93
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
126.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 A$13.47
$15.94 Rp 288.6K
-41.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 A$13.72
$3.88 Rp 70.3K
143.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.29 A$20.78
$11.40 Rp 206.4K
25.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 A$6.03
$3.55 Rp 64.3K
16.90%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 A$4.49
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
100.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 A$4.24
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
30.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 A$7.19
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
150.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.14
$1.86 Rp 33.6K
52.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.54
$2.42 Rp 43.8K
0.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 A$3.41
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
129.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 A$1.76
$0.52 Rp 9,456
132.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$33.38 A$48.54
$2.20 Rp 39.8K
1417.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.73 A$18.51
$21.79 Rp 394.4K
-41.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.21 A$7.58
$2.33 Rp 42.1K
123.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96 A$7.21
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
67.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 A$3.97
$0.25 Rp 4,533
992.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.8 A$123
$8.17 Rp 148.0K
937.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 A$4.30
$0.44 Rp 7,925
572.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 A$2.63
$0.47 Rp 8,472
285.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.11 A$59.8
$5.60 Rp 101.4K
634.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 A$2.03
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
68.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K A$43.6K
$24.4K Rp 442.6M
22.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K A$35.2K
$31.7K Rp 573.8M
-23.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 A$229
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
103.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 A$20.43
$6.14 Rp 111.2K
128.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.48 A$61.8
$18.92 Rp 342.4K
124.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.3 A$80.4
$51.0 Rp 923.1K
8.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.99 A$26.16
$18.25 Rp 330.4K
-1.42%
Cinema Ticket
$13.87 A$20.17
$4.38 Rp 79.3K
216.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,014 A$2,929
$492 Rp 8.9M
309.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K A$18.1K
$12.2K Rp 221.2M
2.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5 A$103
$45.16 Rp 817.6K
56.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.07 A$30.65
$34.89 Rp 631.6K
-39.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.7 A$101
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
-11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$159
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
40.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 A$2,036
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
29.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 A$1,785
$665 Rp 12.0M
84.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,268 A$3,299
$3,510 Rp 63.5M
-35.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,799 A$2,616
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
7.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,888 A$8,564
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
151.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,008 A$7,284
$2,236 Rp 40.5M
123.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,891 A$7,114
$166 Rp 3.0M
2840.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.78
-63.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Byron Bay: November 3, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Byron Bay
$1.2K
Ubud, Bali
$665 45.8% $562
Groceries & Markets
Byron Bay
$364
Ubud, Bali
$279 23.1% $84
Eating Out
Byron Bay
$294
Ubud, Bali
$106 64% $188
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byron Bay
$214
Ubud, Bali
$103 52.1% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Byron Bay
$122
Ubud, Bali
$106 12.8% $16
Getting Around
Byron Bay
$108
Ubud, Bali
$12 88.9% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Byron Bay
$83
Ubud, Bali
$60 28% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,400 in Byron Bay and $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Byron Bay pays about 29 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $79 in Byron Bay vs $35 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $279 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Byron Bay
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
06:12 6:12 AM
03:12 3:12 AM
3 h behind Byron Bay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,538
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.45 AUD (1 AUD = 0.688 USD). 1 EUR = 1.63 AUD (1 AUD = 0.612 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,103 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,331 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Byron Bay Ubud, Bali 4,590 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Byron Bay
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Byron Bay vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,411 in Byron Bay and $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, so Ubud, Bali is about 45% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Byron Bay is about 29 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,400 in Byron Bay versus $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $2,411 per month in Byron Bay versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali – Ubud, Bali is about 45% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 90% less than in Byron Bay. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Byron Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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