Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,430 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,525 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Nanaimo, BC is roughly 71% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nanaimo, BC 71% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 CA$25.40
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
427.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7 CA$111
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
119.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 CA$16.39
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
105.25%
Cappuccino
$4.11 CA$5.74
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
53.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.18
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
29.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 CA$2.25
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
85.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 CA$7.90
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
91.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 CA$7.95
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
25.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 CA$2.38
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
4.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 CA$4.81
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
47.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.40
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
183.78%
Eggs
$4.15 CA$5.80
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
88.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.59 CA$16.22
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-34.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.62 CA$19.05
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
232.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.48 CA$24.46
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
43.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 CA$6.56
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
26.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.82
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
-18.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.26 CA$5.96
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
86.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 CA$6.72
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
146.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 CA$3.75
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
40.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 CA$4.12
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
26.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 CA$4.08
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
188.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 CA$3.21
$0.55 Rp 9,773
316.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.55 CA$17.56
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
462.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.49 CA$20.27
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-37.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 CA$3.69
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
8.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 CA$3.70
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.81 CA$2.53
$0.27 Rp 4,814
570.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.89 CA$64.2
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
411.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 CA$4.07
$0.48 Rp 8,566
506.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 CA$3.06
$0.43 Rp 7,679
406.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.56 CA$39.95
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
406.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 CA$1.94
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
73.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K CA$39.6K
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
13.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.4K
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
-38.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 CA$216
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
89.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.78 CA$57.1
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
528.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5 CA$91.7
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
249.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.32 CA$39.62
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-50.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.16 CA$26.80
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
2.30%
Cinema Ticket
$10.97 CA$15.35
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
141.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 CA$731
$481 Rp 8.5M
8.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K CA$18.8K
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
135.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 CA$69.0
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
8.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.08 CA$47.67
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
-5.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$142
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
26.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$149
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
35.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 CA$1,964
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
25.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 CA$1,601
$698 Rp 12.4M
64.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,099 CA$2,937
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-42.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 CA$2,467
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
1.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,922 CA$5,487
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
40.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,474 CA$4,860
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
51.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nanaimo, BC
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,269 CA$4,573
$168 Rp 3.0M
1845.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.72
13.78
-65.75%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,404 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nanaimo, BC pays 1846% 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: $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 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
Nanaimo, BC vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nanaimo, BC or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Nanaimo, BC. 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 Nanaimo, BC or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1846% higher in Nanaimo, BC, 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 Nanaimo, BC compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,404 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Nanaimo, BC compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 411% less than in Nanaimo, BC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Nanaimo, BC and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $522 in Nanaimo, BC versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nanaimo, BC or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,336 in Nanaimo, BC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Nanaimo, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nanaimo, BC 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 Nanaimo, BC compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Nanaimo, BC 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 71% less than in Nanaimo, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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