Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,115 in Newark, NJ versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,568 in Newark, NJ versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,020 in Newark, NJ versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Newark, NJ is roughly 124% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newark, NJ 134% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.95 $19.95

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

458.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

173.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

135.13%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

78.01%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

93.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

168.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

104.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

81.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-20.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

78.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.10 $8.10

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

604.35%

Eggs

$5.65 $5.65

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

134.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

5.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.34 $16.34

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

289.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.30 $21.30

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

76.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

104.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

56.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

102.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

182.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

85.35%

Onion (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

75.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

183.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

220.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.11 $13.11

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

310.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.89 $19.89

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

-15.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-32.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

38.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.89 $5.89

$0.27 Rp 4,813

2081.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 $55.9

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

567.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.45 Rp 8,167

551.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.46 Rp 8,298

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.72 $21.72

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

257.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

5.81%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

10.66%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

-15.45%

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

$274 $274

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

246.34%

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

$61.4 $61.4

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

1400.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

212.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.42 $30.42

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-69.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.41 $17.41

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

174.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

276.56%

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

$2,055 $2,055

$297 Rp 5.4M

591.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.4K $43.4K

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

557.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 $53.4

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.47 $42.47

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

11.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

24.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

124.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,306 $2,306

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

126.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$680 Rp 12.3M

131.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,250 $3,250

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,568 $2,568

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

22.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,615 $5,615

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

105.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,599 $5,599

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

143.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,627 $3,627

$164 Rp 3.0M

2115.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

13.28

-50.08%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,306 in Newark, NJ and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 2116% 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: $88.0 in Newark, NJ vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $528 vs $298 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

Newark, NJ vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2116% higher in Newark, NJ, 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: $2,306 in Newark, NJ versus $1,020 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 568% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,055 in Newark, NJ versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,115 in Newark, NJ, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Newark, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Newark, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Newark, NJ 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 124% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.