Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lake Macquarie Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lake Macquarie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,297 in Lake Macquarie, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,641 in Lake Macquarie, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,985 in Lake Macquarie, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 40% cheaper than Lake Macquarie, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Lake Macquarie sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Lake Macquarie by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$14.59 A$20.34

-77.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$84.6 A$118

-57.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$10.94 A$15.25

-48.54%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$3.62 A$5.05

-22.10%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$2.53 A$3.53

-30.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$2.10 A$2.92

-61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$7.22 A$10.06

-57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$7.00 A$9.76

-38.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.21 A$1.69

33.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.53 A$2.13

48.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.32 A$1.84

-11.36%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$3.51 A$4.90

-38.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$8.09 A$11.27

117.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$7.05 A$9.83

-42.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$12.69 A$17.69

-4.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.97 A$4.14

21.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$2.53 A$3.53

-35.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$4.06 A$5.66

-43.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$4.69 A$6.54

-58.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$2.21 A$3.08

-16.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.87 A$2.61

26.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$1.56 A$2.17

-32.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.29 A$1.80

-58.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$30.82 A$42.97

-92.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$7.82 A$10.90

195.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.93 A$4.09

-20.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.35 A$3.27

30.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$3.08 A$4.30

-91.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$87.7 A$122

-89.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$2.18 A$3.04

-77.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$3.22 A$4.48

-85.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$60.1 A$83.8

-90.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.33 A$1.86

-39.10%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$28.2K A$39.4K

-11.42%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$25.6K A$35.7K

21.25%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$239 A$333

-65.42%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$11.64 A$16.23

-44.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$45.99 A$64.1

-59.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$56.5 A$78.7

-2.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$18.18 A$25.34

0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$10.15 A$14.15

-57.64%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$1,619 A$2,257

-69.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$10.9K A$15.1K

-45.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$70.7 A$98.6

-34.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$37.85 A$52.8

-3.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$84.1 A$117

-4.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$114 A$159

-30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$1,469 A$2,049

-24.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$1,097 A$1,529

-36.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$2,336 A$3,257

55.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$2,282 A$3,181

-24.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$6,755 A$9,417

-59.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$5,129 A$7,150

-55.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$5,093 A$7,100

-96.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.35

216.78%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lake Macquarie: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,469 in Lake Macquarie. 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 2948% higher in Lake Macquarie, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $85.0 in Lake Macquarie. Groceries tell a different story – $294 in Ubud, Bali vs $281 in Lake Macquarie – so Lake Macquarie wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lake Macquarie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lake Macquarie is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,445 in Lake Macquarie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $2,297 in Lake Macquarie. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 831% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,378, than in Lake Macquarie at $2,297. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lake Macquarie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lake Macquarie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.