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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,253 in Katoomba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,336 in Katoomba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,419 in Katoomba, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 36% cheaper than Katoomba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Katoomba sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Katoomba by 68%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$16.54 A$23.15
-78.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$77.0 A$108
-57.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$9.50 A$13.30
-46.63%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$3.01 A$4.22
-5.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$2.65 A$3.71
-49.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.90 A$2.67
-63.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$5.76 A$8.06
-48.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$7.39 A$10.34
-47.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$0.85 A$1.19
104.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$2.67 A$3.74
-4.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.83 A$2.56
-34.97%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$4.25 A$5.95
-42.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$9.68 A$13.55
51.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$8.91 A$12.47
-53.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$14.76 A$20.67
-19.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$3.33 A$4.67
10.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$2.85 A$3.99
-43.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$3.01 A$4.22
-10.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$4.63 A$6.48
-49.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$2.37 A$3.31
-19.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$2.18 A$3.05
0.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$2.38 A$3.33
-55.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.35 A$1.89
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$30.65 A$42.91
-89.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$14.65 A$20.52
60.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$5.25 A$7.35
-47.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$6.08 A$8.52
-52.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$2.54 A$3.56
-88.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$64.6 A$90.4
-87.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$3.90 A$5.47
-88.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.80 A$2.52
-76.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$40.50 A$56.7
-84.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.14 A$1.60
-26.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$28.5K A$39.8K
-7.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$22.9K A$32.0K
41.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$225 A$314
-65.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$29.72 A$41.60
-86.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$51.3 A$71.8
-52.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$49.43 A$69.2
95.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$16.02 A$22.43
-60.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$13.76 A$19.27
-70.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$1,713 A$2,399
-82.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$13.3K A$18.6K
-50.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$71.2 A$99.6
-24.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$56.3 A$78.8
-32.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$99.8 A$140
-13.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$116 A$162
-31.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$1,251 A$1,751
-19.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$1,059 A$1,482
-36.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$1,978 A$2,769
71.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$1,703 A$2,384
23.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$6,023 A$8,433
-50.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$4,991 A$6,987
-53.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Katoomba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.29
111.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Katoomba: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,251 in Katoomba. 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 $77.0 in Katoomba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $351 – 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 Katoomba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and Katoomba compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $2,253 in Katoomba – roughly 57% apart. Katoomba costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Katoomba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,379 in Katoomba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Katoomba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Katoomba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $2,253 in Katoomba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Katoomba?
Public transport costs about 690% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Katoomba at $2,253. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Katoomba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Katoomba?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,438 in Ubud, Bali to $2,253 in Katoomba. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Katoomba safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Katoomba?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Katoomba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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