Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,155 in Christchurch versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Christchurch versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,053 in Christchurch versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Christchurch is roughly 54% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Christchurch 57% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$33.74 BBD 67.5
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
901.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$175 BBD 349
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
352.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.31 BBD 24.62
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
123.01%
Cappuccino
$5.96 BBD 11.93
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
125.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 BBD 3.49
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
4.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 BBD 2.01
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
29.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 BBD 5.10
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
-3.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 BBD 8.60
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
0.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.52 BBD 7.05
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
127.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 BBD 5.39
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
21.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.39 BBD 14.79
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
553.98%
Eggs
$5.03 BBD 10.05
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
140.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 BBD 16.64
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
-52.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.72 BBD 35.44
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
357.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 BBD 21.60
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
-13.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 BBD 6.13
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
-15.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 BBD 5.55
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
77.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.22 BBD 16.44
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
249.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.28 BBD 16.56
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
301.94%
Potato (1kg)
$6.08 BBD 12.16
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
220.00%
Onion (1kg)
$4.89 BBD 9.78
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
108.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 BBD 4.06
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
97.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 BBD 4.03
$0.55 Rp 9,854
267.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89 BBD 15.78
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
250.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.15 BBD 44.29
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-6.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 BBD 3.42
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
-25.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 BBD 6.44
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 BBD 3.87
$0.27 Rp 4,839
614.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.61 BBD 25.21
$0.48 Rp 8,554
2527.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.47 BBD 4.94
$0.45 Rp 7,924
448.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 BBD 4.14
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
172.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.36 BBD 98.7
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
664.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0 BBD 122
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
221.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$487 Rp 8.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,080 BBD 12.2K
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
3.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 BBD 122
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
33.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 BBD 198
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
20.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 BBD 2,170
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-2.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 BBD 2,003
$701 Rp 12.5M
42.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,293 BBD 4,585
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
-35.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,801 BBD 5,602
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
58.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Christchurch
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,012 BBD 6,024
$170 Rp 3.0M
1674.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
13.78
-34.69%

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

Last update for Christchurch: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,085 in Christchurch and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Christchurch pays 1674% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $175 in Christchurch vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $484 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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
Christchurch vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Christchurch or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Christchurch. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Christchurch or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1674% higher in Christchurch, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Christchurch compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,085 in Christchurch versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Christchurch compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,155 per month in Christchurch versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Christchurch or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Christchurch. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Christchurch or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,155 in Christchurch, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Christchurch. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Christchurch or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Christchurch compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Christchurch and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Christchurch. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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