Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Timaru and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $1,992 in Timaru, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Timaru, New Zealand
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Timaru
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,992
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Timaru and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Timaru and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,992 per month in Timaru vs $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Timaru $1,992
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Timaru vs $2,305 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Timaru $3,048
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

A family of three spends $4,104 per month in Timaru vs $3,261 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Timaru $4,104
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Timaru costs about 48% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.41 NZ$25.62
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
334.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 NZ$109
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
72.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 NZ$19.32
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
96.56%
Cappuccino
$3.29 NZ$5.85
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
20.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 NZ$3.78
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
25.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 NZ$3.16
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
134.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 NZ$10.12
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
115.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.12 NZ$10.87
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
39.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 NZ$2.05
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
-22.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 NZ$3.18
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
-21.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 NZ$1.99
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-5.88%
Eggs
$5.98 NZ$10.62
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
193.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 NZ$14.72
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
-53.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.21 NZ$16.37
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
132.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.69 NZ$29.66
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
36.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 NZ$5.21
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
-19.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 NZ$4.29
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
59.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 NZ$5.64
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
42.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.25 NZ$9.33
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
166.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 NZ$3.30
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
0.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 NZ$3.29
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
-23.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 NZ$4.13
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
134.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 NZ$0.98
$0.51 Rp 9,313
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.06 NZ$37.44
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
848.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 NZ$9.91
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
-74.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17 NZ$5.64
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
40.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 NZ$2.23
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
-57.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 NZ$3.45
$0.25 Rp 4,553
676.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 NZ$196
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
1309.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 NZ$3.97
$0.44 Rp 7,972
406.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 NZ$3.18
$0.43 Rp 7,801
316.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.93 NZ$51.4
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
434.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 NZ$2.76
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
90.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K NZ$50.6K
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
19.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K NZ$40.8K
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
-27.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 NZ$201
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
43.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.85 NZ$40.63
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
254.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5 NZ$93.3
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
182.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.92 NZ$71.0
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
-19.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.39 NZ$20.25
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
166.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$590 NZ$1,048
$491 Rp 8.9M
20.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K NZ$28.6K
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
183.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 NZ$106
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
33.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.10 NZ$62.4
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
0.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 NZ$162
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
13.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 NZ$244
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
72.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 NZ$1,970
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-1.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$921 NZ$1,637
$671 Rp 12.2M
37.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,790 NZ$3,182
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
-49.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 NZ$2,975
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-2.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,547 NZ$8,083
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
66.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,866 NZ$5,094
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
25.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timaru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.07
13.78
-48.69%

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

Last update for Timaru: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Timaru
$921
Ubud, Bali
$672 27.1% $249
Groceries & Markets
Timaru
$302
Ubud, Bali
$288 4.3% $13
Eating Out
Timaru
$244
Ubud, Bali
$108 55.8% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timaru
$188
Ubud, Bali
$104 44.8% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Timaru
$145
Ubud, Bali
$108 26% $38
Getting Around
Timaru
$129
Ubud, Bali
$11 91.2% $118
Sport & Entertainment
Timaru
$63
Ubud, Bali
$58 7.5% $4.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,108 in Timaru versus $1,125 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 $61 in Timaru versus $36 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $288 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Timaru
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
21:31 9:31 PM
16:31 4:31 PM
5 h behind Timaru
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,600
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Timaru Ubud, Bali 6,680 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Timaru
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Timaru vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Timaru or Ubud, Bali?
Timaru costs about 48% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Timaru and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,987 per month in Timaru and $2,023 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Timaru compared to Ubud, Bali?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,108 in Timaru and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do dining costs compare in Timaru and in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Timaru and $36 in Ubud, Bali. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Timaru compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,992 in Timaru and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. That makes Ubud, Bali about 32% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Timaru or in Ubud, Bali?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,992 in Timaru and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Timaru or Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,349 in Ubud, Bali to $1,992 in Timaru. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Timaru compared to Ubud, Bali?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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