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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,441 per month in Rotorua vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,244 per month in Rotorua vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,047 per month in Rotorua vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Rotorua costs about 3% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rotorua and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Rotorua by 7%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.97 NZ$20.43

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

235.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.6 NZ$102

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

83.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 NZ$16.87

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

103.29%

Cappuccino

$2.78 NZ$4.74

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

1.09%

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

$2.30 NZ$3.93

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

74.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 NZ$3.82

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

220.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.57 NZ$9.51

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

91.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.41 NZ$9.24

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

42.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 NZ$3.09

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

5.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 NZ$3.49

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-17.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 NZ$2.29

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

11.67%

Eggs

$5.37 NZ$9.16

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

120.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 NZ$13.45

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-45.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 NZ$14.43

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

96.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.74 NZ$18.33

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-12.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 NZ$3.00

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-52.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 NZ$3.80

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

43.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 NZ$5.46

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

14.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 NZ$2.11

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-46.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 NZ$2.97

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-11.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 NZ$2.75

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-30.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 NZ$3.27

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

81.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 NZ$2.09

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

68.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.06 NZ$39.37

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

603.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 NZ$15.10

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-61.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 NZ$2.46

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-48.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 NZ$4.92

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

3.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 NZ$2.95

$0.29 Rp 5,217

496.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 NZ$107

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

675.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 NZ$3.17

$0.45 Rp 8,047

313.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 NZ$2.71

$0.45 Rp 8,094

253.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.80 NZ$59.4

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

457.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 NZ$2.79

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

92.94%

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

$28.1K NZ$48.0K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

8.29%

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

$22.2K NZ$37.9K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-29.85%

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

$146 NZ$249

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

80.71%

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

$30.36 NZ$51.8

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

647.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.62 NZ$81.3

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

95.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.39 NZ$60.4

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-63.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.33 NZ$17.63

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

60.16%

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 NZ$16.93

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

145.54%

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

$915 NZ$1,563

$304 Rp 5.4M

201.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K NZ$22.9K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

102.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 NZ$122

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

31.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.03 NZ$61.5

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-7.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.81 NZ$73.1

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-50.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 NZ$93.8

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-28.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 NZ$1,225

$986 Rp 17.7M

-27.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 NZ$905

$658 Rp 11.8M

-19.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,458 NZ$2,490

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-56.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 NZ$1,529

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-56.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,212 NZ$7,192

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

53.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,379 NZ$5,769

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

51.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,739 NZ$6,385

$163 Rp 2.9M

2187.95%

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 Rotorua: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Rotorua versus $986 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.

Salaries run about 2188% higher in Rotorua, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Rotorua versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Rotorua vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – so Rotorua wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Rotorua costs about 3% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,161 per month in Rotorua and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Rotorua – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Rotorua and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Rotorua at $1,441. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rotorua it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,404 versus $1,441 in Rotorua. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rotorua makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.