😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lower Hutt versus $1,348 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,016 in Lower Hutt versus $2,312 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,810 in Lower Hutt versus $3,276 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Lower Hutt is roughly 65% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lower Hutt66% above, Ubud, Bali1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.94NZ$19.44
$3.33Rp 59.7K
228.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.24NZ$60.9
$35.42Rp 634.2K
-3.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14NZ$16.25
$5.76Rp 103.1K
58.68%
Cappuccino
$3.05NZ$5.42
$2.63Rp 47.1K
15.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96NZ$3.48
$1.74Rp 31.1K
12.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68NZ$2.99
$0.77Rp 13.8K
118.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76NZ$4.91
$2.71Rp 48.4K
1.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99NZ$12.42
$4.52Rp 80.9K
54.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88NZ$3.33
$1.53Rp 27.5K
22.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68NZ$2.99
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-23.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93NZ$3.42
$1.22Rp 21.8K
58.20%
Eggs
$6.87NZ$12.21
$2.14Rp 38.3K
221.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56NZ$15.21
$17.73Rp 317.5K
-51.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.62NZ$15.32
$3.86Rp 69.0K
123.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.84NZ$22.83
$12.03Rp 215.3K
6.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76NZ$4.91
$3.61Rp 64.6K
-23.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00NZ$3.56
$1.51Rp 27.1K
32.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07NZ$5.45
$2.32Rp 41.5K
32.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66NZ$8.29
$2.00Rp 35.9K
133.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17NZ$3.85
$1.81Rp 32.4K
19.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29NZ$2.29
$2.39Rp 42.7K
-46.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10NZ$3.73
$0.99Rp 17.8K
112.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16NZ$2.06
$0.52Rp 9,389
123.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.91NZ$30.07
$2.18Rp 39.1K
675.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.55NZ$15.21
$22.98Rp 411.4K
-62.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25NZ$5.78
$2.40Rp 42.9K
35.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83NZ$5.02
$3.00Rp 53.7K
-5.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.77NZ$4.92
$0.24Rp 4,262
1054.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.7NZ$151
$6.99Rp 125.2K
1111.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.86NZ$3.30
$0.44Rp 7,889
322.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83NZ$3.25
$0.42Rp 7,595
335.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.72NZ$59.9
$5.45Rp 97.6K
518.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69NZ$3.01
$0.84Rp 15.1K
101.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KNZ$45.2K
$24.3KRp 435.6M
4.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1KNZ$44.5K
$31.9KRp 571.0M
-21.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143NZ$254
$80.8Rp 1.4M
77.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.72NZ$58.2
$6.58Rp 117.8K
397.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5NZ$96.8
$18.24Rp 326.6K
198.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.56NZ$68.6
$55.1Rp 987.1K
-30.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.51Rp 331.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.21NZ$18.15
$4.24Rp 76.0K
140.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$673NZ$1,196
$486Rp 8.7M
38.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3KNZ$20.0K
$5,676Rp 101.6M
98.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9NZ$138
$45.18Rp 809.0K
72.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.11NZ$49.97
$34.57Rp 619.0K
-18.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105NZ$186
$79.2Rp 1.4M
32.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148NZ$262
$77.6Rp 1.4M
90.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,410NZ$2,506
$1,127Rp 20.2M
25.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,150NZ$2,044
$674Rp 12.1M
70.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,133NZ$3,793
$3,618Rp 64.8M
-41.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,673NZ$2,975
$1,735Rp 31.1M
-3.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,825NZ$8,578
$2,829Rp 50.7M
70.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,304NZ$5,875
$2,307Rp 41.3M
43.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lower Hutt
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,183NZ$5,659
$166Rp 3.0M
1821.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.39
13.78
-60.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lower Hutt: October 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,410 in Lower Hutt and $1,127 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lower Hutt pays 1821% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Lower Hutt vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $310 vs $290, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lower Hutt vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Lower Hutt?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lower Hutt or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1821% higher in Lower Hutt, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lower Hutt and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,410 in Lower Hutt versus $1,127 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 1111% less than in Lower Hutt. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $673 in Lower Hutt versus $486 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Lower Hutt or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,223 in Lower Hutt, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Lower Hutt. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lower Hutt or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lower Hutt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lower Hutt or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Lower Hutt and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Lower Hutt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lower Hutt vs other spots: cost of living compared