😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,585 in Mount Isa versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,692 in Mount Isa versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,798 in Mount Isa versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Mount Isa is roughly 89% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mount Isa89% above, Ubud, Bali0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38A$28.54
$3.44Rp 60.6K
492.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.8A$120
$36.31Rp 640.2K
136.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03A$14.04
$5.71Rp 100.6K
75.66%
Cappuccino
$3.84A$5.38
$2.67Rp 47.1K
43.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21A$4.50
$1.75Rp 30.9K
83.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24A$3.14
$0.87Rp 15.4K
157.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.62A$12.08
$2.95Rp 52.1K
192.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.81A$12.33
$4.52Rp 79.7K
94.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84A$2.58
$1.62Rp 28.5K
13.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.86A$4.00
$2.33Rp 41.1K
22.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34A$3.27
$1.11Rp 19.5K
110.81%
Eggs
$4.93A$6.90
$2.20Rp 38.8K
124.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.65A$14.91
$17.69Rp 311.9K
-39.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.67A$12.15
$4.10Rp 72.2K
111.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.06A$23.90
$12.18Rp 214.7K
40.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66A$5.13
$3.71Rp 65.4K
-1.35%
Banana(1kg)
$3.07A$4.29
$1.59Rp 28.0K
93.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48A$4.87
$2.28Rp 40.2K
52.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16A$5.83
$1.95Rp 34.4K
113.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76A$3.87
$1.91Rp 33.6K
44.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57A$3.60
$2.33Rp 41.1K
10.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.45A$3.43
$1.01Rp 17.8K
142.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60A$2.23
$0.55Rp 9,730
190.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$46.73A$65.5
$2.23Rp 39.4K
1995.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.93A$22.31
$23.07Rp 406.8K
-30.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.83A$6.76
$2.42Rp 42.6K
99.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35A$7.49
$3.00Rp 52.8K
78.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48A$4.87
$0.27Rp 4,793
1188.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5A$113
$8.98Rp 158.4K
796.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54A$4.95
$0.48Rp 8,529
637.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56A$2.19
$0.43Rp 7,645
262.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.42A$62.2
$5.64Rp 99.5K
687.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30A$1.82
$0.80Rp 14.2K
62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KA$39.5K
$24.9KRp 439.8M
13.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KA$43.7K
$31.7KRp 559.1M
-1.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214A$300
$81.5Rp 1.4M
163.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.36A$39.71
$6.49Rp 114.5K
336.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4A$80.3
$18.77Rp 330.9K
205.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8A$76.7
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-3.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02A$26.63
$18.73Rp 330.2K
1.55%
Cinema Ticket
$17.24A$24.14
$4.54Rp 80.0K
279.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,154A$3,017
$481Rp 8.5M
348.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7KA$24.8K
$5,711Rp 100.7M
209.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3A$118
$45.52Rp 802.5K
85.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4A$70.6
$35.88Rp 632.6K
40.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$141
$80.4Rp 1.4M
25.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129A$181
$78.7Rp 1.4M
64.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,366A$1,914
$1,115Rp 19.6M
22.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,390A$1,946
$698Rp 12.3M
99.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,449A$3,430
$3,637Rp 64.1M
-32.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,871A$2,621
$1,737Rp 30.6M
7.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,188A$10.1K
$2,784Rp 49.1M
158.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,517A$6,326
$2,290Rp 40.4M
97.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,381A$6,135
$168Rp 3.0M
2507.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.87
13.78
-57.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mount Isa: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,366 in Mount Isa and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mount Isa pays 2507% 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: $86.0 in Mount Isa vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $295 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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
Mount Isa vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mount Isa or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Mount Isa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mount Isa or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2507% higher in Mount Isa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mount Isa compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,366 in Mount Isa versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mount Isa and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $2,154 in Mount Isa versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mount Isa or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Mount Isa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mount Isa or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,585 in Mount Isa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mount Isa. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mount Isa or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Mount Isa compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mount Isa 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Mount Isa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.