Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Northam and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,572 in Northam, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Northam, Australia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Northam
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,572
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Northam and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Northam and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,572 in Northam versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Northam $2,572
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,691 in Northam versus $2,255 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Northam $3,691
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,809 in Northam versus $3,180 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Northam $4,809
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Living in Northam is roughly 93% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Northam is 90% above, Ubud, Bali is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.68 A$29.84
$3.38 Rp 60.9K
511.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.9 A$122
$34.65 Rp 625.4K
144.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 A$15.78
$5.57 Rp 100.6K
96.41%
Cappuccino
$4.48 A$6.46
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
70.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 A$4.18
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
88.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 A$3.17
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
243.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.45 A$12.18
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
216.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16 A$11.77
$4.26 Rp 76.9K
91.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 A$2.55
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
20.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 A$3.75
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
13.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 A$2.85
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
78.38%
Eggs
$4.69 A$6.76
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
123.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.47 A$9.33
$15.94 Rp 287.7K
-59.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.09 A$13.12
$3.88 Rp 70.1K
134.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 A$20.48
$11.40 Rp 205.8K
24.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 A$3.99
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
-22.25%
Banana (1kg)
$3.21 A$4.64
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
108.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 A$5.05
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
56.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.92 A$7.10
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
149.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 A$4.23
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
57.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 A$2.75
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
-21.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 A$3.33
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
126.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 A$0.98
$0.52 Rp 9,427
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.81 A$61.8
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
1845.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.44 A$4.97
$21.79 Rp 393.2K
-84.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.37 A$6.31
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
87.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 A$4.82
$2.97 Rp 53.6K
12.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.78 A$4.01
$0.25 Rp 4,519
1012.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.4 A$123
$8.17 Rp 147.5K
944.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 A$5.13
$0.44 Rp 7,901
709.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 A$2.10
$0.47 Rp 8,446
208.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.13 A$59.3
$5.60 Rp 101.1K
634.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 A$2.02
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
68.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K A$43.7K
$24.4K Rp 441.3M
23.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K A$39.4K
$31.7K Rp 572.1M
-13.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 A$302
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
169.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.31 A$35.07
$6.14 Rp 110.9K
295.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0 A$93.7
$18.92 Rp 341.4K
243.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.0 A$79.3
$51.0 Rp 920.4K
7.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.47 A$25.21
$18.25 Rp 329.4K
-4.27%
Cinema Ticket
$17.29 A$24.95
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
294.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,334 A$3,367
$492 Rp 8.9M
374.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K A$33.7K
$12.2K Rp 220.6M
91.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 A$110
$45.16 Rp 815.1K
69.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3 A$89.8
$34.89 Rp 629.7K
78.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 A$178
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
57.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 A$235
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
108.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 A$2,020
$1,078 Rp 19.4M
29.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 A$1,788
$665 Rp 12.0M
86.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,249 A$3,244
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
-35.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,820 A$2,625
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
8.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,898 A$8,508
$2,340 Rp 42.2M
152.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,898 A$7,066
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
119.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Northam
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.96
13.78
-56.75%

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

Last update for Northam: November 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Northam
$1.2K
Ubud, Bali
$665 46.4% $575
Eating Out
Northam
$331
Ubud, Bali
$106 68% $225
Groceries & Markets
Northam
$315
Ubud, Bali
$279 11.3% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Northam
$298
Ubud, Bali
$103 65.6% $196
Clothing & Footwear
Northam
$191
Ubud, Bali
$106 44.4% $85
Getting Around
Northam
$107
Ubud, Bali
$12 88.9% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Northam
$90
Ubud, Bali
$60 33.3% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,401 in Northam and $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85 in Northam vs $35 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $279 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Northam
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
23:43 11:43 PM
23:43 11:43 PM
Same time as Northam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,000
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.693 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.617 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Northam Ubud, Bali 2,580 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Northam
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Northam vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Northam or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Northam. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Northam and in Ubud, Bali?
You’d need roughly $3,858 in Northam and $1,996 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Northam compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,401 in Northam versus $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Northam and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $85 in Northam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Northam compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $2,572 per month in Northam versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali – Ubud, Bali is about 48% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Northam or in Ubud, Bali?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Northam or 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.
How safe is Northam compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Northam and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Northam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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