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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,191 in Hsinchu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,918 in Hsinchu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,645 in Hsinchu, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 21% more than Hsinchu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Hsinchu is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$4.09 NT$129

-12.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$33.87 NT$1,072

-3.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$5.30 NT$168

-4.34%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$3.07 NT$97.1

-7.82%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.99 NT$31.40

35.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.69 NT$21.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.67 NT$52.8

79.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.34 NT$74.0

64.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$3.28 NT$104

-46.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.85 NT$58.6

37.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$4.50 NT$142

-73.56%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$2.49 NT$78.9

-2.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$13.70 NT$434

7.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$4.96 NT$157

-15.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$16.07 NT$508

-25.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$4.49 NT$142

-17.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$2.54 NT$80.5

-36.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.87 NT$90.8

-6.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$3.95 NT$125

-41.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$3.05 NT$96.4

-37.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$2.20 NT$69.8

-0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.93 NT$61.2

-45.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$1.14 NT$36.15

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$4.49 NT$142

-30.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$14.38 NT$455

63.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.74 NT$55.1

57.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$2.58 NT$81.7

11.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.90 NT$28.40

-67.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$40.39 NT$1,278

-79.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$2.91 NT$92.2

-84.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.74 NT$23.44

-43.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$6.21 NT$197

-0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.03 NT$32.71

-18.45%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$34.2K NT$1.1M

-23.31%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$25.0K NT$790.1K

30.11%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$74.2 NT$2,350

5.63%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$25.03 NT$792

-84.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$25.51 NT$807

-4.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$44.10 NT$1,396

118.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$23.28 NT$737

-72.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$10.02 NT$317

-59.68%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$423 NT$13.4K

-28.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$11.3K NT$359.2K

-42.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$88.9 NT$2,813

-39.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$35.16 NT$1,113

8.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$90.7 NT$2,870

-4.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$103 NT$3,275

-23.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$551 NT$17.4K

83.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$368 NT$11.6K

83.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$1,238 NT$39.2K

173.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$796 NT$25.2K

163.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$8,354 NT$264.4K

-64.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$6,175 NT$195.4K

-62.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$2,621 NT$83.0K

-93.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

1.57

745.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Hsinchu: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $551 in Hsinchu. 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 1414% higher in Hsinchu, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $34.00 in Hsinchu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $340 – 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 Hsinchu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 21% more than Hsinchu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,786 in Hsinchu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 394% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $423 in Hsinchu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hsinchu, where all-in costs run around $1,191, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Hsinchu 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. Hsinchu costs $1,191 versus $1,438 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 Hsinchu. 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.