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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $850 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,360 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,870 in Avarua, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 66% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Avarua is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$59.2 NZ$100

-44.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$8.80 NZ$14.88

-42.27%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$3.52 NZ$5.95

-19.89%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$2.63 NZ$4.44

-47.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$2.37 NZ$4.00

-70.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$5.72 NZ$9.66

-48.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$4.89 NZ$8.27

-20.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$1.82 NZ$3.08

-3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$3.58 NZ$6.05

-29.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$1.85 NZ$3.13

-34.59%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$5.00 NZ$8.46

-53.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$11.97 NZ$20.23

21.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$8.41 NZ$14.21

-48.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$10.99 NZ$18.57

9.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$3.07 NZ$5.19

24.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.78 NZ$3.00

-9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$3.71 NZ$6.27

-27.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$9.64 NZ$16.29

-76.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$3.06 NZ$5.17

-37.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$2.34 NZ$3.95

-6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$2.36 NZ$3.98

-56.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$2.99 NZ$5.05

-74.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$14.69 NZ$24.82

58.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$4.47 NZ$7.55

-39.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$119 NZ$201

-32.88%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$68.4 NZ$116

-19.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$75.3 NZ$127

4.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$156 NZ$263

553.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$157 NZ$266

319.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$174 NZ$295

1868.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$229 NZ$387

796.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

$4,988 NZ$8,429

-40.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

$760 NZ$1,285

211.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Avarua: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $156 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $59 in Avarua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $379 – 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 66% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,275 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $850 in Avarua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% 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 $850, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $850 versus $1,408 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.