😐A single person spends $2,132 per month in Honiara vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,750 per month in Honiara vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,369 per month in Honiara vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Honiara costs about 50% 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 6%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.10SBD 48.96
$3.56Rp 63.7K
71.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.1SBD 410
$32.73Rp 584.5K
55.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.92SBD 95.6
$4.95Rp 88.4K
140.81%
Cappuccino
$3.00SBD 24.09
$2.71Rp 48.4K
10.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39SBD 11.13
$1.34Rp 24.0K
3.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07SBD 8.61
$0.70Rp 12.5K
52.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82SBD 14.59
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-37.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54SBD 28.42
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.56SBD 20.52
$1.81Rp 32.3K
41.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49SBD 11.92
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-40.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54SBD 12.33
$1.16Rp 20.7K
32.76%
Eggs
$5.49SBD 44.07
$2.46Rp 43.9K
123.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.95SBD 31.70
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-73.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.40SBD 67.4
$4.32Rp 77.1K
94.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.53SBD 117
$12.14Rp 216.7K
19.69%
Apples(1kg)
$7.63SBD 61.2
$3.84Rp 68.6K
98.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68SBD 21.52
$1.56Rp 27.8K
71.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.83SBD 62.8
$2.83Rp 50.6K
176.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34SBD 26.81
$2.33Rp 41.5K
43.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95SBD 15.66
$1.91Rp 34.2K
2.09%
Onion(1kg)
$3.32SBD 26.64
$2.20Rp 39.3K
50.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34SBD 10.73
$1.01Rp 18.1K
32.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07SBD 8.59
$0.78Rp 13.8K
37.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93SBD 31.56
$3.32Rp 59.2K
18.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46SBD 83.9
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-55.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SBD 14.86
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-33.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21SBD 25.72
$2.86Rp 51.1K
12.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47SBD 3.73
$0.27Rp 4,800
74.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.71SBD 190
$8.03Rp 143.4K
195.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21SBD 9.71
$0.46Rp 8,150
163.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17SBD 9.35
$0.45Rp 8,037
160.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.88SBD 95.4
$6.10Rp 108.9K
94.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29SBD 10.36
$0.79Rp 14.2K
63.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$709SBD 5,688
$79.9Rp 1.4M
786.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.03SBD 209
$4.06Rp 72.6K
541.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.9SBD 689
$23.52Rp 420.0K
265.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.96SBD 47.81
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-10.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.35SBD 26.86
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-19.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.6SBD 759
$304Rp 5.4M
-68.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,788SBD 22.4K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-57.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.64SBD 166
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-62.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$90.8SBD 728
$38.31Rp 684.1K
136.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6SBD 607
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-14.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1SBD 602
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547SBD 4,390
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-45.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624SBD 5,005
$675Rp 12.1M
-7.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,236SBD 9,913
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-64.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$836SBD 6,707
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-59.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$85.7KSBD 687.5K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
2915.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$62.9KSBD 504.9K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
2679.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Honiara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$699SBD 5,606
$165Rp 3.0M
322.85%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Honiara versus $1,006 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 323% 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 $51.0 in Honiara versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $302 – 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 Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,132 in Honiara, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 50% 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 $3,198 per month in Honiara and $2,129 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 11% 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 $51.0 in Honiara and $33.00 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 $1,419, than in Honiara at $2,132. 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali to $2,132 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.