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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Taipei vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Taipei vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,104 per month in Taipei vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Taipei is about 2% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Taipei and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Taipei by 0%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.62 NT$146
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
37.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.10 NT$1,524
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
24.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.87 NT$186
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
6.34%
Cappuccino
$3.44 NT$109
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
30.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 NT$29.18
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-44.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 NT$20.97
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 NT$87.5
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
4.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 NT$119
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
-12.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 NT$96.4
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
96.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 NT$62.3
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
-11.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 NT$96.0
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
168.14%
Eggs
$2.77 NT$87.9
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
32.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.90 NT$630
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
14.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.95 NT$315
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
157.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.25 NT$674
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
69.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 NT$160
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
39.23%
Banana (1kg)
$3.36 NT$106
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
115.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 NT$98.8
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
32.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.46 NT$141
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
116.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.80 NT$88.8
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
47.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 NT$73.6
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
-0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 NT$54.3
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
66.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 NT$37.32
$0.55 Rp 9,809
114.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 NT$124
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
73.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.43 NT$457
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-39.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 NT$52.8
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-27.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 NT$73.1
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
-17.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 NT$21.98
$0.27 Rp 4,816
155.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.23 NT$1,180
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
329.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 NT$85.4
$0.48 Rp 8,515
462.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 NT$23.84
$0.45 Rp 7,887
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.50 NT$301
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
66.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 NT$32.12
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K NT$1.1M
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
38.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K NT$763.9K
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-24.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.7 NT$2,716
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
2.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.27 NT$579
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
182.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.88 NT$884
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
46.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.07 NT$1,302
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
-26.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.95 NT$506
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-14.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66 NT$306
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
125.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$633 NT$20.1K
$487 Rp 8.6M
30.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K NT$534.5K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
188.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 NT$1,956
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
35.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.47 NT$1,283
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
11.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 NT$2,656
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
2.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 NT$3,398
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
33.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$866 NT$27.5K
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-22.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$494 NT$15.7K
$701 Rp 12.4M
-29.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,572 NT$49.8K
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-55.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$955 NT$30.3K
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-45.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.7K NT$401.2K
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
347.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,665 NT$242.9K
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
234.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taipei
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,716 NT$54.4K
$170 Rp 3.0M
910.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.4
13.78
-82.58%

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

Last update for Taipei: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $866 in Taipei versus $1,117 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 910% higher in Taipei, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Taipei versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $293 – 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
Taipei vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Taipei?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,056 per month in Taipei and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taipei, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Taipei and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,371 in Taipei and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 330% less in Taipei. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Taipei or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Taipei, where all-in costs run around $1,371, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Taipei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Taipei or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taipei – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Taipei or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Taipei. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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