Cost of Living Comparison Between North Shore and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between North Shore and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,179 in North Shore versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,983 in North Shore versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,786 in North Shore versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in North Shore is roughly 58% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North Shore 59% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.43 NZ$24.23
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
335.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5 NZ$120
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
82.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.01 NZ$13.46
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
42.53%
Cappuccino
$3.44 NZ$5.78
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
30.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 NZ$3.53
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
32.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 NZ$2.89
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
142.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.32 NZ$12.29
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
168.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.50 NZ$12.60
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
73.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.87
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
11.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 NZ$2.29
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
-40.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 NZ$3.10
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
78.64%
Eggs
$5.75 NZ$9.65
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
171.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 NZ$13.56
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
-53.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 NZ$16.65
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
146.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 NZ$15.15
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
-27.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 NZ$4.40
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
-29.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 NZ$3.54
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
30.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 NZ$5.16
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
35.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 NZ$6.59
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
96.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 NZ$3.75
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
21.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 NZ$2.85
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
-24.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 NZ$3.49
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 NZ$1.12
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.60 NZ$41.30
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
1008.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 NZ$16.88
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
-56.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 NZ$3.02
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
-24.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 NZ$2.08
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
-56.79%
🚌 Getting Around
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 NZ$3.97
$0.25 Rp 4,416
848.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.7 NZ$109
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
802.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 NZ$4.07
$0.46 Rp 8,163
426.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 NZ$3.43
$0.46 Rp 8,235
343.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.97 NZ$55.4
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
478.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 NZ$2.92
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
128.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K NZ$44.3K
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
7.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K NZ$39.9K
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
-23.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 NZ$327
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
136.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.66 NZ$24.61
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
131.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.74 NZ$71.8
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
130.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.65 NZ$48.11
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
-48.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.73 NZ$18.02
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
151.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,158 NZ$1,944
$489 Rp 8.7M
136.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K NZ$24.9K
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
155.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7 NZ$120
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
55.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.66 NZ$64.9
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
7.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 NZ$151
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
13.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 NZ$201
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
47.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 NZ$2,284
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
18.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 NZ$1,848
$692 Rp 12.3M
59.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,387 NZ$4,008
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
-32.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 NZ$2,366
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
-17.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,492 NZ$12.6K
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
169.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,355 NZ$10.7K
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
181.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Shore
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,037 NZ$5,100
$169 Rp 3.0M
1693.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
13.78
-61.32%

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

Last update for North Shore: August 16, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,360 in North Shore and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

North Shore pays 1694% 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: $71.0 in North Shore vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $293, with North Shore cheaper for home cooking.

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
North Shore vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in North Shore and in Ubud, Bali?
North Shore and Ubud, Bali differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($2,179 vs $1,379 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: North Shore or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1694% higher in North Shore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in North Shore and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,360 in North Shore versus $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $71.0 in North Shore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: North Shore or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,179 per month in North Shore versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,179 in North Shore, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in North Shore. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between North Shore and Ubud, Bali?
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.
Is North Shore or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, North Shore 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.
Where should expats move: North Shore or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in North Shore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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