Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,880 per month in Sydney, NS vs $1,395 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,831 per month in Sydney, NS vs $2,559 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,782 per month in Sydney, NS vs $3,724 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sydney, NS costs about 35% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sydney, NS and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sydney, NS by 40%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.69 CA$16.02
$3.48 Rp 59.7K
235.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 CA$83.8
$32.88 Rp 564.0K
86.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.06 CA$9.67
$5.09 Rp 87.3K
38.70%
Cappuccino
$3.00 CA$4.12
$2.75 Rp 47.1K
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.01
$1.38 Rp 23.7K
59.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 CA$2.71
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
178.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.57 CA$7.64
$2.88 Rp 49.4K
93.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CA$7.87
$3.87 Rp 66.4K
48.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CA$3.09
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
25.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 CA$3.55
$2.45 Rp 42.0K
5.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 CA$3.48
$1.21 Rp 20.7K
109.92%
Eggs
$3.54 CA$4.85
$2.39 Rp 40.9K
48.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.57 CA$9.01
$14.70 Rp 252.1K
-55.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.72 CA$11.95
$4.24 Rp 72.7K
105.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.88 CA$19.02
$12.08 Rp 207.1K
14.90%
Apples (1kg)
$7.33 CA$10.05
$3.66 Rp 62.9K
100.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 CA$1.71
$1.61 Rp 27.6K
-22.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 CA$4.98
$2.72 Rp 46.6K
33.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.43 CA$1.96
$2.27 Rp 39.0K
-37.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 CA$1.16
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
-55.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 CA$3.45
$2.30 Rp 39.4K
9.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.32
$1.02 Rp 17.4K
138.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.38
$0.78 Rp 13.4K
123.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.69 CA$25.61
$3.24 Rp 55.7K
476.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.68 CA$16.00
$24.06 Rp 412.7K
-51.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 CA$3.91
$2.84 Rp 48.7K
0.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 CA$5.88
$2.79 Rp 47.8K
53.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.13 CA$1.55
$0.27 Rp 4,610
318.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.24 CA$67.5
$8.24 Rp 141.4K
497.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 CA$6.21
$0.45 Rp 7,708
906.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 CA$1.95
$0.43 Rp 7,305
230.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.31 CA$34.67
$6.02 Rp 103.3K
320.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.58
$0.86 Rp 14.7K
34.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K CA$34.2K
$26.1K Rp 447.1M
-4.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K CA$27.5K
$31.7K Rp 543.7M
-36.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.9 CA$124
$78.3 Rp 1.3M
15.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.11 CA$65.9
$4.00 Rp 68.5K
1102.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.9 CA$105
$24.35 Rp 417.7K
215.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 CA$68.9
$95.8 Rp 1.6M
-47.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.63 CA$4.98
$6.46 Rp 110.7K
-43.81%
Cinema Ticket
$7.97 CA$10.91
$4.01 Rp 68.7K
98.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$741 CA$1,015
$302 Rp 5.2M
145.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.2K
$6,545 Rp 112.3M
80.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7 CA$98.2
$53.4 Rp 916.3K
34.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.1 CA$93.3
$38.55 Rp 661.2K
76.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 CA$142
$89.1 Rp 1.5M
16.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$149
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
37.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 CA$1,491
$1,016 Rp 17.4M
7.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$811 CA$1,111
$672 Rp 11.5M
20.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,962 CA$2,687
$3,368 Rp 57.8M
-41.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,443 CA$1,977
$2,108 Rp 36.2M
-31.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,060 CA$6,933
$3,001 Rp 51.5M
68.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,746 CA$5,132
$2,337 Rp 40.1M
60.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney, NS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,560 CA$3,507
$178 Rp 3.0M
1342.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
13.28
-48.42%

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

Last update for Sydney, NS: April 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,089 in Sydney, NS versus $1,016 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 1342% higher in Sydney, NS, 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 $61 in Sydney, NS versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $300 – 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
Sydney, NS vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sydney, NS or Ubud, Bali?
Sydney, NS costs about 35% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sydney, NS vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,820 per month in Sydney, NS and $2,092 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sydney, NS or 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.
How much does it cost to live in Sydney, NS compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,880 in Sydney, NS and $1,395 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Sydney, NS vs Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 498% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sydney, NS or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,395, than in Sydney, NS at $1,880. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sydney, NS or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,395 versus $1,880 in Sydney, NS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sydney, NS compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Sydney, NS or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sydney, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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