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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,020 in Lake Macquarie, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,241 in Lake Macquarie, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,461 in Lake Macquarie, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 31% cheaper than Lake Macquarie, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Lake Macquarie sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Lake Macquarie by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

$13.09 A$18.80

-72.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

$77.4 A$111

-58.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

$9.61 A$13.81

-47.87%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

$3.32 A$4.77

-15.06%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$2.36 A$3.40

-42.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$1.93 A$2.77

-62.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$6.41 A$9.20

-54.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

$7.24 A$10.40

-45.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$1.38 A$1.98

28.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

$1.43 A$2.06

71.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

$1.24 A$1.78

-7.26%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

$3.24 A$4.66

-25.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

$7.27 A$10.45

97.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

$6.28 A$9.02

-33.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

$11.66 A$16.74

3.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

$3.05 A$4.38

19.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$2.76 A$3.96

-43.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

$3.06 A$4.40

-8.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$4.50 A$6.46

-50.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

$2.02 A$2.90

-1.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

$1.76 A$2.52

29.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

$1.38 A$1.98

-23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.13 A$1.62

-30.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

$28.62 A$41.11

-88.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

$7.80 A$11.21

201.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

$2.56 A$3.67

13.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

$2.15 A$3.09

28.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,821

$2.02 A$2.89

-86.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

$88.1 A$127

-90.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,180

$1.96 A$2.82

-77.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

$1.54 A$2.21

-70.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

$46.59 A$66.9

-86.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.25 A$1.80

-31.20%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

$25.3K A$36.4K

4.89%

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

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

$20.3K A$29.2K

60.06%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$201 A$288

-60.62%

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

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

$10.60 A$15.23

-61.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

$41.80 A$60.1

-42.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$48.65 A$69.9

103.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

$15.82 A$22.72

-59.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

$9.12 A$13.10

-56.03%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$1,455 A$2,090

-79.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

$9,923 A$14.3K

-33.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

$75.0 A$108

-28.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

$34.12 A$49.02

11.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$77.3 A$111

14.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$129 A$186

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$1,284 A$1,845

-20.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$1,000 A$1,436

-31.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

$1,990 A$2,859

74.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

$2,083 A$2,991

0.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$5,664 A$8,136

-51.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

$5,268 A$7,566

-56.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$4,902 A$7,042

-96.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.35

205.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Lake Macquarie: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,284 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 2895% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $77.0 in Lake Macquarie. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $262 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 45%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,031 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $2,020 in Lake Macquarie. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 952% 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 $1,392, than in Lake Macquarie at $2,020. 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.