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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $839 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,362 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,885 in Avarua, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 69% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Avarua is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 594.6K

$59.3 NZ$102

-44.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.9K

$9.23 NZ$15.90

-46.37%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 49.3K

$3.67 NZ$6.33

-26.16%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.4K

$2.64 NZ$4.54

-49.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.7K

$2.43 NZ$4.20

-71.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 53.0K

$6.03 NZ$10.38

-51.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.9K

$4.93 NZ$8.50

-19.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.8K

$1.84 NZ$3.16

-1.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.7K

$3.46 NZ$5.96

-27.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 21.0K

$1.83 NZ$3.16

-36.61%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.7K

$5.16 NZ$8.89

-52.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 267.3K

$12.04 NZ$20.75

22.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 78.4K

$8.50 NZ$14.65

-49.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 220.5K

$10.67 NZ$18.38

13.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.8K

$3.09 NZ$5.32

24.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.3K

$1.83 NZ$3.14

-14.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.5K

$3.71 NZ$6.39

-23.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 42.2K

$9.64 NZ$16.60

-75.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.8K

$3.05 NZ$5.26

-37.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 40.0K

$2.36 NZ$4.06

-6.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.4K

$2.40 NZ$4.13

-57.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.1K

$3.03 NZ$5.23

-74.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 60.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 431.2K

$15.06 NZ$25.95

57.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 52.0K

$4.49 NZ$7.73

-36.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,883

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 145.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,291

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,176

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 110.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.4K

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

$26.1K Rp 475.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 583.5M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.5M

$123 NZ$212

-34.89%

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

$4.06 Rp 73.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 427.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 120.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 75.3K

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 120.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$68.0 NZ$117

-18.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 695.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$75.5 NZ$130

3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.3M

$158 NZ$271

538.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.3M

$155 NZ$266

336.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.5M

$172 NZ$296

1905.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 37.0M

$230 NZ$397

785.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.6M

$5,020 NZ$8,648

-43.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 41.1M

$734 NZ$1,265

208.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Avarua: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $158 in Avarua. 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $59.0 in Avarua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $380 – 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 69% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,258 in Avarua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $839 in Avarua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $839, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $839 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Avarua. 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.