Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $232 per month in Lihir Island vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $427 per month in Lihir Island vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $622 per month in Lihir Island vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Lihir Island is about 83% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lihir Island sits 83% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 PGK 20.22

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

31.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.29 PGK 126

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-9.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PGK 25.13

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

20.37%

Cappuccino

$2.36 PGK 10.14

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-14.18%

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

$0.73 PGK 3.15

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-44.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 PGK 3.04

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

1.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 PGK 15.66

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

25.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PGK 10.08

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

-37.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 PGK 7.13

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 PGK 6.09

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-42.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.05

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

17.50%

Eggs

$2.27 PGK 9.77

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-6.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 PGK 18.83

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

1.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.42 PGK 10.40

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-80.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.04

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 PGK 10.08

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

19.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 3.94

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-60.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 1.96

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-36.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.01 PGK 25.83

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

83.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 PGK 10.25

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.22

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-14.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Lihir Island: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Lihir Island versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $114 vs $297 – making Lihir Island 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

Lihir Island vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $232 in Lihir Island, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 504% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $349 per month in Lihir Island and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Lihir Island and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $232 in Lihir Island and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lihir Island, where all-in costs run around $232, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Lihir Island it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $232 in Lihir Island to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Lihir Island. 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.