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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $932 in Canterbury, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,543 in Canterbury, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,155 in Canterbury, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Canterbury, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Canterbury is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$14.42 NZ$25.22

-76.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$63.0 NZ$110

-42.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$11.72 NZ$20.48

-51.28%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$3.23 NZ$5.65

-17.34%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$2.18 NZ$3.81

-19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$2.11 NZ$3.69

-58.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$4.15 NZ$7.25

-28.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$6.41 NZ$11.21

-29.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$2.24 NZ$3.91

-27.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.98 NZ$3.45

17.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.74 NZ$3.04

-36.21%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$5.60 NZ$9.80

-60.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$8.52 NZ$14.89

107.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$8.94 NZ$15.63

-54.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$16.81 NZ$29.39

-27.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$3.06 NZ$5.36

21.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$2.29 NZ$4.00

-30.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$3.37 NZ$5.90

-32.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$5.13 NZ$8.96

-61.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.94 NZ$3.39

-1.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.82 NZ$3.18

28.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$2.34 NZ$4.10

-56.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.61 NZ$1.06

-9.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$21.38 NZ$37.38

-89.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$9.32 NZ$16.29

147.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$3.34 NZ$5.83

-27.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$1.26 NZ$2.21

138.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$5.71 NZ$9.99

-91.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$28.46 NZ$49.76

-80.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.63 NZ$2.85

-50.92%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$25.5K NZ$44.5K

-2.06%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$26.4K NZ$46.2K

19.96%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$114 NZ$200

-28.73%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$28.91 NZ$50.5

-77.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$52.6 NZ$92.0

-64.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$10.63 NZ$18.58

-57.29%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$611 NZ$1,068

-21.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$59.9 NZ$105

-23.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$22.74 NZ$39.75

57.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$93.0 NZ$162

-13.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$141 NZ$246

-44.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$909 NZ$1,588

22.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$2,772 NZ$4,846

-93.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

244.50%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Canterbury: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $909 in Canterbury. 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 1550% higher in Canterbury, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $63.0 in Canterbury. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $324 – 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 Canterbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $932 in Canterbury – roughly 47% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,398 in Canterbury. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $63.0 in Canterbury. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Canterbury, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Canterbury it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Canterbury to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Canterbury. 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.