🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,172 in Busselton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,228 in Busselton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,284 in Busselton.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 35% less than in Busselton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali5% above, Busselton63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.0K
$16.00A$22.93
-78.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 580.1K
$77.5A$111
-58.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 86.9K
$9.20A$13.18
-47.39%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$3.70A$5.30
-25.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$2.42A$3.47
-42.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$2.00A$2.87
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.7K
$7.74A$11.09
-61.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.1K
$6.51A$9.33
-40.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$0.84A$1.20
107.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$1.12A$1.61
119.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.02A$1.46
14.71%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$3.14A$4.50
-22.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.2K
$8.33A$11.94
74.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.0K
$7.68A$11.01
-43.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 214.9K
$14.02A$20.09
-14.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.7K
$3.34A$4.79
11.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.89A$2.71
-13.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.2K
$2.95A$4.22
-7.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$4.42A$6.34
-49.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.4K
$2.44A$3.50
-21.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.8K
$1.77A$2.54
28.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.94A$2.78
-45.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$1.47A$2.11
-51.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 58.9K
$14.33A$20.53
-77.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.1K
$13.22A$18.94
75.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$3.90A$5.59
-28.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.0K
$4.16A$5.96
-34.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,778
$2.56A$3.67
-89.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.4K
$65.1A$93.3
-87.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,659
$4.03A$5.78
-88.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,532
$2.15A$3.08
-80.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.6K
$49.49A$70.9
-87.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.16A$1.67
-30.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 477.4M
$28.3KA$40.6K
-6.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 577.4M
$24.1KA$34.6K
33.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$158A$226
-50.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.0K
$28.43A$40.73
-85.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 436.4K
$49.47A$70.9
-50.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$49.26A$70.6
100.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.7K
$15.55A$22.28
-59.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.5K
$16.10A$23.07
-75.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$1,765A$2,529
-82.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.2M
$11.9KA$17.1K
-44.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 971.2K
$64.2A$91.9
-15.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 678.2K
$47.31A$67.8
-20.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$103A$148
-15.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$106A$152
-28.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$1,269A$1,818
-21.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$1,081A$1,549
-37.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.5M
$2,051A$2,938
64.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$1,649A$2,362
24.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.3M
$6,316A$9,048
-55.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 39.9M
$5,383A$7,712
-58.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Busselton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.42
106.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Busselton: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $1,269 in Busselton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $77.0 in Busselton. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $294, with Busselton cheaper for home cooking.
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 Busselton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Busselton?
Ubud, Bali and Busselton differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $2,172 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Busselton?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $3,258 in Busselton to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Busselton?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,269 in Busselton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Busselton?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,765 in Busselton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Busselton pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,172 in Busselton, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Busselton. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Busselton?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Busselton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Busselton are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Busselton?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Busselton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared