Cost of Living Comparison Between Paihia and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Paihia and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,864 per month in Paihia vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,822 per month in Paihia vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,780 per month in Paihia vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Paihia costs about 30% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Paihia and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Paihia by 39%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.31 NZ$26.02
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
328.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.42 NZ$61.9
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
11.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.82 NZ$14.99
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
73.96%
Cappuccino
$3.51 NZ$5.97
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
24.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 NZ$4.00
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
75.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 NZ$3.72
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
217.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 NZ$12.12
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
138.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.31 NZ$12.43
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
89.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 NZ$2.98
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
0.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 NZ$3.63
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-15.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.39
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
67.23%
Eggs
$6.71 NZ$11.41
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
176.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.68 NZ$14.75
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-40.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.76 NZ$16.60
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
133.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.91 NZ$21.95
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
8.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 NZ$4.79
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-23.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 NZ$3.74
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
36.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 NZ$5.49
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
20.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 NZ$7.13
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
79.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 NZ$3.41
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
4.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 NZ$2.81
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-24.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 NZ$3.25
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
80.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 NZ$2.10
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
72.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.74 NZ$43.75
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
722.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 NZ$17.52
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-56.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 NZ$5.23
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
12.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 NZ$6.57
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
34.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 NZ$3.64
$0.29 Rp 5,010
637.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.6 NZ$110
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
690.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 NZ$3.00
$0.45 Rp 7,834
291.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 NZ$3.40
$0.42 Rp 7,278
376.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.48 NZ$60.3
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
475.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.78
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
94.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K NZ$49.1K
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
9.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K NZ$38.3K
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-30.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 NZ$246
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
84.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.48 NZ$51.8
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
671.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.19 NZ$83.6
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
101.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.76 NZ$62.5
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-61.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87 NZ$20.18
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
86.93%
Cinema Ticket
$14.81 NZ$25.17
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
266.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$899 NZ$1,529
$303 Rp 5.2M
197.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K NZ$23.1K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
108.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 NZ$119
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
30.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 NZ$85.4
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
32.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 NZ$168
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
14.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 NZ$209
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
56.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 NZ$1,666
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-3.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$800 NZ$1,360
$674 Rp 11.6M
18.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,578 NZ$2,682
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-53.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,448 NZ$2,462
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-30.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,229 NZ$7,190
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
41.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,008 NZ$5,113
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
28.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paihia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
13.28
-52.03%

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

Last update for Paihia: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Paihia versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Paihia versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $298 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Paihia vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Paihia and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,864 in Paihia, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 30% apart. Paihia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Paihia compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,796 per month in Paihia and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Paihia and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Paihia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Paihia and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Paihia at $1,864. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paihia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Paihia and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,438 in Ubud, Bali to $1,864 in Paihia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Paihia or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Paihia and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paihia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Paihia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities