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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,306 in Nelson BC versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,214 in Nelson BC versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,121 in Nelson BC versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Nelson BC is roughly 64% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nelson BC 72% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.78 CA$20.65

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

314.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 CA$93.4

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

105.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 CA$12.98

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

91.15%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.56

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

44.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CA$3.04

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

64.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CA$2.53

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

158.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.25

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

78.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 CA$8.16

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

54.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 CA$2.65

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 CA$4.53

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

31.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.23

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

152.50%

Eggs

$3.70 CA$5.16

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

51.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.09 CA$15.49

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-22.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.94 CA$20.87

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

246.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.43 CA$28.53

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

67.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.28

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

2.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 CA$0.94

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-56.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 CA$2.28

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-41.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.86 CA$5.40

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

65.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.51

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

27.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.96

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

22.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

156.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.50

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

145.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.48 CA$20.23

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

341.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.77 CA$19.23

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-39.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.31

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CA$4.39

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

13.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$0.29 Rp 5,217

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 CA$86.1

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

664.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 CA$4.11

$0.45 Rp 8,047

553.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 CA$2.38

$0.45 Rp 8,094

277.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.93 CA$50.2

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

475.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.70

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

43.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

-2.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K CA$28.3K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-35.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$144 CA$201

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

78.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.3 CA$73.1

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

1188.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 CA$83.8

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

145.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.06 CA$58.7

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-56.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 CA$16.53

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

193.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,066 CA$1,489

$304 Rp 5.4M

250.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K CA$24.1K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

160.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 CA$71.8

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-5.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.91 CA$57.1

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

5.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 CA$120

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-0.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CA$177

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

65.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 CA$1,954

$986 Rp 17.7M

41.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 CA$1,676

$658 Rp 11.8M

82.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 CA$3,059

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-34.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,553 CA$2,169

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-24.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,150 CA$4,399

$163 Rp 2.9M

1827.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

13.28

-50.83%

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

Last update for Nelson BC: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,399 in Nelson BC and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nelson BC pays 1828% 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: $67.0 in Nelson BC vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $297 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

Nelson BC vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nelson BC and Ubud, Bali differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,306 vs $1,404 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Nelson BC pays 1828% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,399 in Nelson BC versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 665% less than in Nelson BC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,066 in Nelson BC versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,306 in Nelson BC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Nelson BC. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Nelson 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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Nelson BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.