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: $2,230 in Nelson BC versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,127 in Nelson BC versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,024 in Nelson BC versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Nelson BC is roughly 63% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nelson BC 63% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.22 CA$19.77

$3.44 Rp 60.6K

313.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 CA$82.6

$36.31 Rp 640.2K

63.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 CA$12.22

$5.71 Rp 100.6K

53.94%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$2.67 Rp 47.1K

47.19%

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

$1.98 CA$2.75

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

13.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

93.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.69 CA$6.52

$2.95 Rp 52.1K

58.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 CA$8.22

$4.52 Rp 79.7K

30.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.62 Rp 28.5K

25.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.98

$2.33 Rp 41.1K

22.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$1.11 Rp 19.5K

227.03%

Eggs

$3.17 CA$4.40

$2.20 Rp 38.8K

44.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.56 CA$13.28

$17.69 Rp 311.9K

-45.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.56 CA$18.85

$4.10 Rp 72.2K

230.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.16 CA$29.42

$12.18 Rp 214.7K

73.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.93

$3.71 Rp 65.4K

-4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 CA$0.90

$1.59 Rp 28.0K

-59.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CA$2.18

$2.28 Rp 40.2K

-31.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 CA$6.69

$1.95 Rp 34.4K

146.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 CA$4.41

$1.91 Rp 33.6K

65.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.37

$2.33 Rp 41.1K

34.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CA$3.65

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

159.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 CA$2.66

$0.55 Rp 9,730

247.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.56 CA$20.24

$2.23 Rp 39.4K

552.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 CA$19.02

$23.07 Rp 406.8K

-40.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 CA$3.73

$2.42 Rp 42.6K

10.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 CA$4.42

$3.00 Rp 52.8K

6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 CA$2.10

$0.27 Rp 4,793

459.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.23 CA$51.8

$8.98 Rp 158.4K

314.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 CA$3.98

$0.48 Rp 8,529

495.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$0.43 Rp 7,645

323.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.59 CA$48.09

$5.64 Rp 99.5K

513.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

52.50%

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

$28.3K CA$39.3K

$24.9K Rp 439.8M

13.42%

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

$17.8K CA$24.8K

$31.7K Rp 559.1M

-43.85%

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

$129 CA$179

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

58.13%

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

$44.49 CA$61.9

$6.49 Rp 114.5K

585.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 CA$79.2

$18.77 Rp 330.9K

203.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 CA$82.5

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

4.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 330.2K

Cinema Ticket

$12.44 CA$17.29

$4.54 Rp 80.0K

174.01%

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

$1,046 CA$1,454

$481 Rp 8.5M

117.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$5,711 Rp 100.7M

185.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.45 CA$68.7

$45.52 Rp 802.5K

8.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.88 CA$58.2

$35.88 Rp 632.6K

16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 CA$122

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

9.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CA$142

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

30.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 CA$1,886

$1,115 Rp 19.6M

21.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 CA$1,573

$698 Rp 12.3M

62.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,143 CA$2,979

$3,637 Rp 64.1M

-41.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 CA$2,104

$1,737 Rp 30.6M

-12.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,265 CA$4,539

$168 Rp 3.0M

1843.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.62

13.78

-66.47%

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

Last update for Nelson BC: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,357 in Nelson BC and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nelson BC pays 1844% 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: $59.0 in Nelson BC vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 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

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

Nelson BC and Ubud, Bali differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($2,230 vs $1,368 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1844% higher in Nelson BC, 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: $1,357 in Nelson BC versus $1,115 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 315% less than in Nelson BC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,046 in Nelson BC versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,230 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 63% less than in Nelson BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.