😐A single person spends $1,718 per month in Honiara vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,864 per month in Honiara vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,010 per month in Honiara vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Honiara costs about 23% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Honiara and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Honiara by 25%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.93SBD 55.4
$3.37Rp 59.9K
105.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4SBD 498
$38.59Rp 685.5K
61.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.50SBD 99.8
$5.52Rp 98.1K
126.45%
Cappuccino
$3.52SBD 28.12
$2.64Rp 47.0K
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60SBD 12.74
$1.67Rp 29.7K
-4.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11SBD 8.86
$0.77Rp 13.7K
44.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47SBD 19.76
$2.63Rp 46.8K
-6.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50SBD 43.94
$4.28Rp 76.1K
28.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58SBD 20.61
$1.55Rp 27.5K
66.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54SBD 12.31
$2.22Rp 39.5K
-30.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66SBD 13.28
$1.13Rp 20.0K
46.90%
Eggs
$5.59SBD 44.63
$2.09Rp 37.1K
167.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.39SBD 51.0
$17.39Rp 309.0K
-63.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.41SBD 67.1
$3.87Rp 68.7K
117.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.00SBD 120
$12.55Rp 222.9K
19.52%
Apples(1kg)
$6.20SBD 49.54
$3.62Rp 64.2K
71.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SBD 20.53
$1.56Rp 27.7K
64.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$8.80SBD 70.3
$2.35Rp 41.8K
274.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.76SBD 30.05
$2.06Rp 36.5K
82.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93SBD 15.37
$1.90Rp 33.7K
1.58%
Onion(1kg)
$3.53SBD 28.20
$2.34Rp 41.5K
50.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43SBD 11.40
$1.03Rp 18.3K
38.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03SBD 8.21
$0.55Rp 9,854
87.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10SBD 32.74
$2.25Rp 40.0K
82.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51SBD 84.0
$23.81Rp 422.9K
-55.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79SBD 14.26
$2.31Rp 41.1K
-22.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52SBD 28.12
$2.80Rp 49.8K
25.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39SBD 3.08
$0.27Rp 4,839
44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.79SBD 198
$8.66Rp 153.9K
186.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28SBD 10.18
$0.48Rp 8,554
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SBD 9.71
$0.45Rp 7,924
171.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.48SBD 99.7
$5.72Rp 101.6K
118.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29SBD 10.31
$0.76Rp 13.5K
69.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KSBD 150.2K
$24.5KRp 434.9M
-23.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSBD 280.3K
$32.1KRp 570.6M
9.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$444SBD 3,544
$83.6Rp 1.5M
431.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.88SBD 223
$6.46Rp 114.7K
331.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.0SBD 727
$18.99Rp 337.4K
379.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.67SBD 293
$56.0Rp 994.4K
-34.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.90SBD 71.1
$18.62Rp 330.7K
-52.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42SBD 35.26
$4.28Rp 76.1K
3.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.5SBD 786
$487Rp 8.6M
-79.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,849SBD 22.7K
$5,856Rp 104.0M
-51.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.89SBD 215
$45.56Rp 809.3K
-40.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.2SBD 737
$36.38Rp 646.3K
153.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.9SBD 790
$82.0Rp 1.5M
20.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104SBD 834
$80.4Rp 1.4M
29.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$902SBD 7,201
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-19.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$440SBD 3,515
$701Rp 12.5M
-37.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,882SBD 15.0K
$3,537Rp 62.8M
-46.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,400SBD 11.2K
$1,762Rp 31.3M
-20.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$87.4KSBD 697.6K
$2,826Rp 50.2M
2991.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$62.8KSBD 501.1K
$2,292Rp 40.7M
2638.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$716SBD 5,714
$170Rp 3.0M
321.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.67
13.78
13.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Honiara: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $902 in Honiara versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 321% higher in Honiara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Honiara versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $293 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Honiara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Honiara and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,718 in Honiara, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 23% apart. Honiara costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Honiara compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,577 per month in Honiara and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Honiara and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Honiara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Honiara and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Honiara at $1,718. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honiara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Honiara and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,396 in Ubud, Bali to $1,718 in Honiara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Honiara or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Honiara and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Honiara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.