Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lower Hutt Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lower Hutt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,247 in Lower Hutt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,120 in Lower Hutt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,993 in Lower Hutt.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 39% less than in Lower Hutt, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Lower Hutt 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
$11.11 NZ$18.66
-70.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
$35.70 NZ$60.0
9.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
$9.63 NZ$16.17
-41.64%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$3.24 NZ$5.43
-18.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$2.01 NZ$3.37
-21.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$1.88 NZ$3.16
-62.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
$2.87 NZ$4.83
-4.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
$7.17 NZ$12.04
-39.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
$2.07 NZ$3.48
-25.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
$2.10 NZ$3.52
9.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$1.99 NZ$3.34
-48.24%
Eggs
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
$7.49 NZ$12.58
-71.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
$9.31 NZ$15.64
85.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
$8.65 NZ$14.53
-53.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
$14.04 NZ$23.57
-11.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
$2.86 NZ$4.80
29.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$2.05 NZ$3.45
-20.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
$3.11 NZ$5.22
-27.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$6.74 NZ$11.33
-70.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
$2.24 NZ$3.77
-18.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$1.22 NZ$2.05
84.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$2.16 NZ$3.63
-51.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$1.22 NZ$2.05
-54.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$20.30 NZ$34.09
-89.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
$9.99 NZ$16.78
132.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
$3.25 NZ$5.45
-26.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
$2.91 NZ$4.88
-1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,416
$2.60 NZ$4.36
-90.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
$86.9 NZ$146
-91.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$1.98 NZ$3.33
-76.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$1.93 NZ$3.24
-76.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
$34.90 NZ$58.6
-83.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$1.59 NZ$2.67
-52.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
$26.8K NZ$45.0K
-8.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
$26.2K NZ$44.1K
18.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
$199 NZ$334
-58.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
$32.38 NZ$54.4
-80.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
$55.1 NZ$92.4
-66.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
$43.32 NZ$72.7
29.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
$10.72 NZ$18.00
-60.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.7M
$714 NZ$1,198
-31.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
$12.0K NZ$20.2K
-51.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
$82.2 NZ$138
-44.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
$29.66 NZ$49.81
20.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$106 NZ$177
-24.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
$164 NZ$275
-50.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
$1,495 NZ$2,511
-23.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 Rp 12.3M
$1,070 NZ$1,797
-35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
$2,462 NZ$4,134
43.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
$1,641 NZ$2,756
4.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
$4,982 NZ$8,366
-44.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
$3,426 NZ$5,753
-33.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Lower Hutt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$3,367 NZ$5,654
-94.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.39
155.66%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Lower Hutt: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali and $1,495 in Lower Hutt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lower Hutt pays 1889% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $36.00 in Lower Hutt. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $340, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lower Hutt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lower Hutt cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Lower Hutt?
On paper, salaries run 1889% lower in Lower Hutt. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Lower Hutt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,495 in Lower Hutt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 1112% less than in Lower Hutt. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $489 in Ubud, Bali versus $714 in Lower Hutt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Lower Hutt?
At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,247 in Lower Hutt, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Lower Hutt. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Lower Hutt more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lower Hutt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Lower Hutt?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Lower Hutt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Lower Hutt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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