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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,253 per month in Katoomba vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,336 per month in Katoomba vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,419 per month in Katoomba vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Katoomba costs about 57% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Katoomba and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Katoomba by 68%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.54 A$23.15
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
363.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.0 A$108
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
136.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 A$13.30
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
87.38%
Cappuccino
$3.01 A$4.22
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
6.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 A$3.71
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
97.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 A$2.67
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
175.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 A$8.06
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
92.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.39 A$10.34
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
91.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 A$1.19
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-51.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 A$3.74
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
5.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 A$2.56
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
53.78%
Eggs
$4.25 A$5.95
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
74.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.68 A$13.55
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-33.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.91 A$12.47
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
113.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.76 A$20.67
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
23.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$4.67
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-9.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 A$3.99
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
77.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 A$4.22
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
11.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 A$6.48
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
98.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 A$3.31
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
24.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 A$3.05
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-0.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 A$3.33
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
124.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 A$1.89
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.65 A$42.91
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
879.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.65 A$20.52
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-37.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.25 A$7.35
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
91.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 A$8.52
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
111.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 A$3.56
$0.29 Rp 5,029
775.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.6 A$90.4
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
690.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 A$5.47
$0.45 Rp 7,863
766.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 A$2.52
$0.42 Rp 7,305
328.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.50 A$56.7
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
557.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 A$1.60
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$39.8K
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
8.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K A$32.0K
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-29.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 A$314
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
186.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.72 A$41.60
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
652.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3 A$71.8
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
110.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.43 A$69.2
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-48.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.02 A$22.43
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
152.28%
Cinema Ticket
$13.76 A$19.27
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
240.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,713 A$2,399
$303 Rp 5.2M
466.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K A$18.6K
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
103.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2 A$99.6
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
32.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3 A$78.8
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
48.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 A$140
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
15.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 A$162
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
46.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,251 A$1,751
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
23.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,059 A$1,482
$674 Rp 11.7M
56.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,978 A$2,769
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-41.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,703 A$2,384
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-18.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,023 A$8,433
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
101.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,991 A$6,987
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
113.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Katoomba
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.29
13.28
-52.64%

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

Last update for Katoomba: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,251 in Katoomba versus $1,012 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Katoomba versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $298 – 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
Katoomba vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Katoomba and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,253 in Katoomba, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 57% apart. Katoomba costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Katoomba compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,379 per month in Katoomba and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Katoomba 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 is more expensive overall: Katoomba or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,253 in Katoomba and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Katoomba and Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 690% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 $1,438, than in Katoomba at $2,253. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Katoomba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Katoomba and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,438 in Ubud, Bali to $2,253 in Katoomba. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Katoomba 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 Katoomba and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Katoomba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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