Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Darwin and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $3,073 in Darwin, rent and utilities included – about $20,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Darwin, Australia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Darwin
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,073
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Darwin 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 Darwin and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,073 in Darwin versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Darwin $3,073
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,118 in Darwin versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Darwin $4,118
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,163 in Darwin versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Darwin $5,163
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Darwin is roughly 128% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.40 A$31.85
$3.32 Rp 59.9K
574.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.7 A$129
$35.64 Rp 642.4K
154.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 A$16.16
$5.53 Rp 99.7K
105.42%
Cappuccino
$4.23 A$6.01
$2.72 Rp 49.0K
55.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 A$4.92
$1.70 Rp 30.7K
103.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 A$4.28
$0.76 Rp 13.7K
296.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.57 A$10.76
$2.65 Rp 47.8K
185.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57 A$10.77
$4.38 Rp 79.0K
72.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 A$2.19
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
3.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 A$4.32
$2.28 Rp 41.0K
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 A$3.13
$1.19 Rp 21.5K
84.87%
Eggs
$4.47 A$6.35
$2.04 Rp 36.7K
119.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 A$12.68
$17.70 Rp 319.1K
-49.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.31 A$11.82
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
109.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.85 A$12.58
$12.19 Rp 219.7K
-27.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 A$5.47
$3.66 Rp 65.9K
5.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 A$4.10
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
89.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 A$3.98
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
25.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 A$7.15
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
155.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.62
$1.85 Rp 33.3K
37.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.27
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
-4.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 A$2.93
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
108.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 A$3.09
$0.51 Rp 9,255
325.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.35 A$64.5
$2.22 Rp 40.0K
1942.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 A$17.28
$22.24 Rp 400.9K
-45.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$10.13 A$14.40
$2.26 Rp 40.7K
348.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 A$11.19
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
164.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,525
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.37 A$68.8
$7.82 Rp 141.0K
518.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 A$5.25
$0.44 Rp 7,923
738.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 A$1.91
$0.43 Rp 7,753
213.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.52 A$69.0
$5.41 Rp 97.5K
796.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 A$1.89
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
62.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K A$42.6K
$23.8K Rp 429.7M
25.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K A$47.5K
$31.7K Rp 572.3M
5.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 A$305
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
171.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.49 A$47.61
$6.45 Rp 116.2K
419.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9 A$86.7
$18.58 Rp 334.9K
227.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.0 A$104
$49.48 Rp 892.0K
47.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.22 A$40.13
$17.65 Rp 318.1K
59.89%
Cinema Ticket
$16.99 A$24.16
$4.27 Rp 77.0K
297.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,939 A$2,756
$491 Rp 8.8M
295.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,442 A$12.0K
$5,674 Rp 102.3M
48.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.2 A$121
$44.64 Rp 804.7K
90.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.52 A$66.2
$34.95 Rp 630.1K
33.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 A$150
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
32.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 A$196
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
73.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 A$2,444
$1,125 Rp 20.3M
52.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 A$2,430
$671 Rp 12.1M
154.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,803 A$3,985
$3,565 Rp 64.3M
-21.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,124 A$3,021
$1,723 Rp 31.1M
23.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,771 A$5,363
$2,732 Rp 49.2M
38.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,536 A$5,028
$2,284 Rp 41.2M
54.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Darwin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,223 A$6,005
$164 Rp 3.0M
2477.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.14
13.78
-55.44%

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

Last update for Darwin: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Darwin
$1.7K
Ubud, Bali
$672 60.7% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Darwin
$377
Ubud, Bali
$288 23.6% $89
Eating Out
Darwin
$343
Ubud, Bali
$108 68.6% $235
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Darwin
$309
Ubud, Bali
$104 66.3% $205
Clothing & Footwear
Darwin
$169
Ubud, Bali
$108 36.3% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Darwin
$107
Ubud, Bali
$58 45.7% $49
Getting Around
Darwin
$59 *
Ubud, Bali
$11 80.6% $47

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,719 in Darwin and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Darwin pays about 26 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $91 in Darwin vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $288 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Darwin
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
20:34 8:34 PM
19:04 7:04 PM
1 h 30 min behind Darwin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
122,207
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,025 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.55 USD). 1 EUR = 20,061 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Darwin Ubud, Bali 1,760 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Darwin
  • 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
Darwin vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Darwin?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. The 128% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Darwin or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Darwin is about 26 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Darwin and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,719 in Darwin versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Darwin and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Darwin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Darwin or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36 versus $91 in Darwin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Darwin or in Ubud, Bali?
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.
Is it better to live in Darwin or in 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.
Which city is safer, Darwin or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Darwin 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Darwin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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