Cost of Living Comparison Between Margaret River and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Margaret River and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,570 per month in Margaret River vs $1,374 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,757 per month in Margaret River vs $2,313 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,944 per month in Margaret River vs $3,252 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Margaret River costs about 87% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Margaret River and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Margaret River by 90%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.21 A$28.80
$3.32 Rp 59.7K
508.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.9 A$121
$35.33 Rp 634.5K
140.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.76 A$15.33
$5.33 Rp 95.8K
101.88%
Cappuccino
$4.43 A$6.31
$2.75 Rp 49.5K
61.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 A$4.17
$1.73 Rp 31.0K
69.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.18
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
178.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.20 A$11.68
$2.95 Rp 52.9K
177.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.39 A$11.96
$4.44 Rp 79.7K
88.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 A$2.44
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
14.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 A$4.40
$2.30 Rp 41.3K
34.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 A$2.89
$1.10 Rp 19.7K
84.55%
Eggs
$5.28 A$7.53
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
144.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 A$13.39
$17.09 Rp 306.9K
-45.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 A$13.35
$3.88 Rp 69.6K
141.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.02 A$19.98
$11.92 Rp 214.0K
17.62%
Apples (1kg)
$4.45 A$6.35
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
24.65%
Banana (1kg)
$3.28 A$4.67
$1.58 Rp 28.4K
107.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 A$4.88
$2.36 Rp 42.4K
45.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.10 A$7.27
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
158.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 A$4.15
$1.81 Rp 32.5K
60.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 A$2.78
$2.39 Rp 42.9K
-18.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 A$3.19
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
119.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 A$1.85
$0.49 Rp 8,825
165.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.84 A$61.0
$2.25 Rp 40.3K
1804.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 A$17.85
$22.30 Rp 400.5K
-43.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.26 A$6.07
$2.37 Rp 42.5K
79.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 A$4.94
$2.90 Rp 52.0K
19.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 A$4.32
$0.25 Rp 4,474
1112.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.2 A$116
$8.55 Rp 153.6K
849.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 A$5.11
$0.44 Rp 7,936
713.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 A$2.01
$0.42 Rp 7,584
235.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.25 A$57.4
$5.66 Rp 101.7K
611.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 A$1.88
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
62.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K A$39.2K
$23.7K Rp 426.3M
15.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K A$42.1K
$31.0K Rp 556.3M
-4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 A$287
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
144.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.56 A$47.82
$6.30 Rp 113.1K
432.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3 A$87.3
$18.63 Rp 334.7K
228.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 A$80.4
$54.7 Rp 982.9K
3.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.97 A$25.61
$18.45 Rp 331.3K
-2.60%
Cinema Ticket
$17.32 A$24.68
$4.24 Rp 76.1K
308.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,348 A$3,346
$484 Rp 8.7M
385.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K A$32.8K
$5,590 Rp 100.4M
311.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.9 A$110
$45.77 Rp 822.0K
67.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.3 A$91.6
$35.69 Rp 641.0K
80.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 A$170
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
51.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 A$214
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
87.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 A$2,018
$1,147 Rp 20.6M
23.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 A$1,721
$678 Rp 12.2M
78.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,123 A$3,025
$3,504 Rp 62.9M
-39.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,799 A$2,563
$1,688 Rp 30.3M
6.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,629 A$8,020
$2,788 Rp 50.1M
101.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,060 A$7,210
$2,257 Rp 40.5M
124.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margaret River
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,896 A$4,126
$165 Rp 3.0M
1654.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.92
13.78
-57.04%

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

Last update for Margaret River: September 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,416 in Margaret River 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 1654% higher in Margaret River, 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 $85.0 in Margaret River versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $286 – 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
Margaret River vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Margaret River?
Yes – Margaret River is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,855 per month in Margaret River and $2,062 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Margaret River or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Margaret River and $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Margaret River and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,570 in Margaret River and $1,374 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Margaret River or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Margaret River at $2,570. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Margaret River it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Margaret River or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Margaret River or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Margaret River makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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