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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,730 in Queenstown versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,283 in Queenstown versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,836 in Queenstown versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Queenstown is roughly 92% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Queenstown 104% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.92 NZ$25.19
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
319.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.1 NZ$144
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
159.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 NZ$15.99
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
91.31%
Cappuccino
$3.50 NZ$5.90
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
29.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 NZ$4.14
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
82.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 NZ$3.95
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
234.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 NZ$12.03
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
144.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 NZ$9.96
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
48.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 NZ$3.84
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
25.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 NZ$3.46
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-18.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 NZ$4.24
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
116.38%
Eggs
$6.29 NZ$10.62
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
155.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 NZ$17.10
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-31.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.72 NZ$18.10
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
148.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.79 NZ$28.34
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
38.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 NZ$5.32
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-17.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 NZ$4.18
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
58.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 NZ$7.01
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
46.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.83 NZ$9.84
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
150.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NZ$4.54
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
40.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 NZ$3.95
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
6.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 NZ$4.73
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
177.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 NZ$1.85
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
41.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.38 NZ$49.60
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
784.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 NZ$17.38
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-56.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.85 NZ$8.19
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
73.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 NZ$11.57
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
139.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.75 NZ$4.64
$0.27 Rp 4,800
918.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$128 NZ$216
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
1493.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 NZ$4.75
$0.46 Rp 8,150
510.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 NZ$3.07
$0.45 Rp 8,037
304.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.15 NZ$52.6
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
410.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 NZ$2.83
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
111.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K NZ$50.7K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
14.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K NZ$30.2K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-44.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$282 NZ$477
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
253.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.45 NZ$68.3
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
896.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3 NZ$105
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
164.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 NZ$97.3
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-41.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 NZ$41.89
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
274.21%
Cinema Ticket
$13.14 NZ$22.19
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
216.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 NZ$827
$304 Rp 5.4M
61.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,906 NZ$11.7K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
4.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9 NZ$148
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
58.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 NZ$84.4
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
30.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 NZ$166
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
11.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$278 NZ$469
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
256.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,461 NZ$2,466
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
45.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,298 NZ$2,192
$675 Rp 12.1M
92.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,037 NZ$5,127
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-11.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,556 NZ$4,315
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
25.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,161 NZ$13.8K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
187.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,609 NZ$9,469
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
147.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queenstown
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,223 NZ$5,441
$165 Rp 3.0M
1850.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
13.28
-49.25%

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

Last update for Queenstown: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,461 in Queenstown and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Queenstown pays 1850% 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: $85.0 in Queenstown vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $302 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
Queenstown vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Queenstown?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Queenstown or Ubud, Bali?
Queenstown pays 1850% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Queenstown and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,461 in Queenstown versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Queenstown or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $85.0 in Queenstown. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Queenstown vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,730 per month in Queenstown versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Queenstown or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,730 in Queenstown, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Queenstown. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Queenstown or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Queenstown, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Queenstown or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Queenstown 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Queenstown. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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