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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,138 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,374 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,943 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,313 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,748 per month in Hsinchu vs $3,252 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Hsinchu is about 17% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hsinchu sits 16% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.17 NT$133
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
25.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.42 NT$906
$35.33 Rp 631.4K
-19.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.58 NT$146
$5.33 Rp 95.3K
-14.07%
Cappuccino
$3.05 NT$97.2
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
10.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 NT$30.87
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
-43.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 NT$23.19
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
-8.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 NT$58.8
$2.95 Rp 52.7K
-37.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NT$71.9
$4.44 Rp 79.3K
-49.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.83 NT$90.1
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
88.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 NT$55.0
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
-24.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.95 NT$94.1
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
168.18%
Eggs
$2.77 NT$88.2
$2.16 Rp 38.6K
28.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$36.07 NT$1,150
$17.09 Rp 305.4K
111.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.85 NT$218
$3.88 Rp 69.3K
76.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.72 NT$660
$11.92 Rp 213.0K
73.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 NT$87.5
$3.57 Rp 63.7K
-22.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 NT$81.9
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
62.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 NT$106
$2.36 Rp 42.2K
40.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 NT$99.2
$1.97 Rp 35.1K
57.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 NT$73.8
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
27.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 NT$74.8
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
-1.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 NT$66.5
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
104.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 NT$42.75
$0.49 Rp 8,782
173.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 NT$127
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
77.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.39 NT$395
$22.30 Rp 398.5K
-44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 NT$63.4
$2.37 Rp 42.3K
-16.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 NT$74.9
$2.90 Rp 51.7K
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 NT$20.72
$0.25 Rp 4,452
160.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.02 NT$1,307
$8.55 Rp 152.8K
379.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 NT$99.4
$0.44 Rp 7,897
609.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 NT$9.49
$0.42 Rp 7,547
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.21 NT$325
$5.66 Rp 101.2K
80.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 NT$32.86
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
27.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K NT$1.1M
$23.7K Rp 424.2M
39.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K NT$842.3K
$31.0K Rp 553.6M
-14.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 NT$3,264
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
24.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.39 NT$618
$6.30 Rp 112.6K
207.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.64 NT$690
$18.63 Rp 333.0K
16.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.4 NT$1,669
$54.7 Rp 978.1K
-4.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45 Rp 329.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 NT$324
$4.24 Rp 75.8K
139.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$756 NT$24.1K
$484 Rp 8.7M
56.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.7K NT$530.6K
$5,590 Rp 99.9M
197.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 NT$1,842
$45.77 Rp 818.0K
26.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.43 NT$1,129
$35.69 Rp 637.9K
-0.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.3 NT$2,463
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
-1.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 NT$3,417
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
33.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 NT$13.7K
$1,147 Rp 20.5M
-62.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 NT$8,413
$678 Rp 12.1M
-61.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,110 NT$35.4K
$3,504 Rp 62.6M
-68.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$753 NT$24.0K
$1,688 Rp 30.2M
-55.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,237 NT$262.5K
$2,788 Rp 49.8M
195.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,061 NT$193.2K
$2,257 Rp 40.3M
168.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hsinchu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,517 NT$80.2K
$165 Rp 2.9M
1425.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.13
13.78
-84.54%

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

Last update for Hsinchu: September 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $431 in Hsinchu versus $1,147 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 1425% higher in Hsinchu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Hsinchu versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $406 in Hsinchu vs $286 in Ubud, Bali – so Ubud, Bali wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Hsinchu vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hsinchu or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 21% more than Hsinchu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hsinchu and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,708 per month in Hsinchu and $2,062 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hsinchu or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hsinchu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hsinchu compared to Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 380% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hsinchu and in Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $756 per month in Hsinchu and $484 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hsinchu or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hsinchu, where all-in costs run around $1,138, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,374. In Hsinchu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hsinchu or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hsinchu costs $1,138 versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hsinchu compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Hsinchu or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Hsinchu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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