Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,071 per month in Lake Macquarie vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,258 per month in Lake Macquarie vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,444 per month in Lake Macquarie vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Lake Macquarie costs about 48% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lake Macquarie and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Lake Macquarie by 54%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.96 A$18.32

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

263.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.8 A$109

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

136.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.75 A$13.78

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

100.62%

Cappuccino

$3.29 A$4.64

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

19.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 A$3.33

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

78.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.78

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

181.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 A$9.45

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

129.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.22 A$10.21

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

90.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 A$1.96

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-18.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 A$1.94

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-44.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 A$1.65

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

-2.50%

Eggs

$3.26 A$4.60

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

33.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 A$10.66

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-47.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 A$8.95

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

47.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 A$16.70

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-3.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 A$4.23

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-18.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.85

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

76.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.15 A$4.45

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

12.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.26 A$6.02

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

82.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 A$2.76

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-1.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 A$2.37

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 A$1.94

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

29.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 A$1.62

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

57.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$28.39 A$40.11

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

765.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 A$10.83

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-66.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 A$3.63

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 A$3.00

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-23.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 A$2.84

$0.29 Rp 5,217

593.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.9 A$127

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

1015.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 A$2.74

$0.45 Rp 8,047

331.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 A$2.18

$0.45 Rp 8,094

242.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$46.13 A$65.2

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

639.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 A$1.71

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

42.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K A$34.9K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

-4.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.2K A$28.6K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-36.12%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$199 A$281

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

145.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.37 A$14.65

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

155.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.44 A$58.6

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

69.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.89 A$69.1

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-49.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 A$21.91

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

140.47%

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 A$12.97

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

127.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,457 A$2,059

$304 Rp 5.4M

379.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K A$14.3K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

53.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 A$105

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

37.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.18 A$46.88

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-14.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 A$110

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-9.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 A$183

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

68.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 A$1,796

$986 Rp 17.7M

28.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 A$1,381

$658 Rp 11.8M

48.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,978 A$2,795

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-41.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,043 A$2,886

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-1.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,409 A$7,643

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

97.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,613 A$7,931

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

151.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,972 A$7,025

$163 Rp 2.9M

2942.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.35

13.28

-67.24%

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

Last update for Lake Macquarie: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,271 in Lake Macquarie versus $986 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 2942% higher in Lake Macquarie, 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 $77.0 in Lake Macquarie versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Lake Macquarie vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – so Lake Macquarie 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

Lake Macquarie vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lake Macquarie is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,107 per month in Lake Macquarie and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,071 in Lake Macquarie and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1015% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Lake Macquarie at $2,071. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lake Macquarie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lake Macquarie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.