😐A single person spends $2,120 per month in Honiara vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,756 per month in Honiara vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,393 per month in Honiara vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Honiara costs about 51% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Honiara and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Honiara by 59%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87SBD 47.33
$3.45Rp 62.0K
70.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.8SBD 418
$32.34Rp 580.1K
60.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.90SBD 96.0
$4.84Rp 86.9K
145.87%
Cappuccino
$3.10SBD 25.01
$2.75Rp 49.3K
12.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38SBD 11.15
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03SBD 8.32
$0.75Rp 13.5K
37.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84SBD 14.86
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66SBD 29.50
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-4.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64SBD 21.30
$1.74Rp 31.1K
51.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47SBD 11.88
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-40.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56SBD 12.58
$1.17Rp 21.0K
33.33%
Eggs
$5.29SBD 42.72
$2.43Rp 43.6K
117.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.95SBD 31.90
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-72.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34SBD 67.3
$4.35Rp 78.0K
91.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.79SBD 119
$11.98Rp 214.9K
23.46%
Apples(1kg)
$7.59SBD 61.3
$3.72Rp 66.7K
104.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62SBD 21.17
$1.63Rp 29.2K
60.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.53SBD 60.8
$2.74Rp 49.2K
174.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34SBD 26.97
$2.24Rp 40.2K
49.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01SBD 16.19
$1.92Rp 34.4K
4.69%
Onion(1kg)
$3.27SBD 26.35
$2.28Rp 40.8K
43.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33SBD 10.77
$1.06Rp 19.1K
25.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11SBD 8.97
$0.72Rp 12.9K
54.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89SBD 31.36
$3.29Rp 58.9K
18.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.36SBD 83.6
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-55.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81SBD 14.59
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-34.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20SBD 25.81
$2.73Rp 49.0K
17.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50SBD 4.01
$0.27Rp 4,778
85.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.80SBD 192
$8.11Rp 145.4K
193.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23SBD 9.92
$0.48Rp 8,659
156.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17SBD 9.42
$0.42Rp 7,532
178.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.89SBD 95.9
$6.22Rp 111.6K
91.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30SBD 10.49
$0.81Rp 14.6K
60.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.6KRp 477.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$705SBD 5,688
$78.4Rp 1.4M
799.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.04SBD 210
$4.07Rp 73.0K
539.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.2SBD 696
$24.33Rp 436.4K
254.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.16SBD 49.67
$6.34Rp 113.7K
-2.84%
Cinema Ticket
$3.23SBD 26.09
$3.99Rp 71.5K
-19.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.3SBD 769
$305Rp 5.5M
-68.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,775SBD 22.4K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-58.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.99SBD 161
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-63.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$89.1SBD 719
$37.81Rp 678.2K
135.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7SBD 619
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6SBD 618
$76.4Rp 1.4M
0.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$532SBD 4,290
$992Rp 17.8M
-46.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$627SBD 5,056
$673Rp 12.1M
-6.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,217SBD 9,822
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-63.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$843SBD 6,803
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-58.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$87.3KSBD 704.2K
$2,805Rp 50.3M
3011.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$61.9KSBD 499.1K
$2,227Rp 39.9M
2677.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$692SBD 5,584
$167Rp 3.0M
314.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.67
13.28
18.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Honiara: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $532 in Honiara versus $992 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 314% 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 $52.0 in Honiara versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $297 – 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: $2,120 in Honiara, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 51% apart. Honiara costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Honiara compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,180 per month in Honiara and $2,112 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 13% 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 $52.0 in Honiara and $32.00 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 $1,408, than in Honiara at $2,120. 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,120 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.