Cost of Living Comparison Between Mount Isa and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Mount Isa and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Isa 89% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38 A$28.54
$3.44 Rp 60.6K
492.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.8 A$120
$36.31 Rp 640.2K
136.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 A$14.04
$5.71 Rp 100.6K
75.66%
Cappuccino
$3.84 A$5.38
$2.67 Rp 47.1K
43.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 A$4.50
$1.75 Rp 30.9K
83.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 A$3.14
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
157.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.62 A$12.08
$2.95 Rp 52.1K
192.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.81 A$12.33
$4.52 Rp 79.7K
94.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 A$2.58
$1.62 Rp 28.5K
13.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 A$4.00
$2.33 Rp 41.1K
22.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 A$3.27
$1.11 Rp 19.5K
110.81%
Eggs
$4.93 A$6.90
$2.20 Rp 38.8K
124.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 A$14.91
$17.69 Rp 311.9K
-39.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.67 A$12.15
$4.10 Rp 72.2K
111.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.06 A$23.90
$12.18 Rp 214.7K
40.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 A$5.13
$3.71 Rp 65.4K
-1.35%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 A$4.29
$1.59 Rp 28.0K
93.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 A$4.87
$2.28 Rp 40.2K
52.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 A$5.83
$1.95 Rp 34.4K
113.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 A$3.87
$1.91 Rp 33.6K
44.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 A$3.60
$2.33 Rp 41.1K
10.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 A$3.43
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
142.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 A$2.23
$0.55 Rp 9,730
190.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$46.73 A$65.5
$2.23 Rp 39.4K
1995.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.93 A$22.31
$23.07 Rp 406.8K
-30.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.83 A$6.76
$2.42 Rp 42.6K
99.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35 A$7.49
$3.00 Rp 52.8K
78.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.48 A$4.87
$0.27 Rp 4,793
1188.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 A$113
$8.98 Rp 158.4K
796.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 A$4.95
$0.48 Rp 8,529
637.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.19
$0.43 Rp 7,645
262.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.42 A$62.2
$5.64 Rp 99.5K
687.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 A$1.82
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K A$39.5K
$24.9K Rp 439.8M
13.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K A$43.7K
$31.7K Rp 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)
$214 A$300
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
163.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.36 A$39.71
$6.49 Rp 114.5K
336.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 A$80.3
$18.77 Rp 330.9K
205.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.8 A$76.7
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-3.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 A$26.63
$18.73 Rp 330.2K
1.55%
Cinema Ticket
$17.24 A$24.14
$4.54 Rp 80.0K
279.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,154 A$3,017
$481 Rp 8.5M
348.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K A$24.8K
$5,711 Rp 100.7M
209.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3 A$118
$45.52 Rp 802.5K
85.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 A$70.6
$35.88 Rp 632.6K
40.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$141
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
25.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 A$181
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
64.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,366 A$1,914
$1,115 Rp 19.6M
22.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$1,946
$698 Rp 12.3M
99.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,449 A$3,430
$3,637 Rp 64.1M
-32.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,871 A$2,621
$1,737 Rp 30.6M
7.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,188 A$10.1K
$2,784 Rp 49.1M
158.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,517 A$6,326
$2,290 Rp 40.4M
97.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mount Isa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,381 A$6,135
$168 Rp 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.

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