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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $788 in Miaoli.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,105 in Miaoli.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,423 in Miaoli.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 75% more expensive than in Miaoli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Miaoli is 43% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$2.61 NT$82.5
27.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$24.16 NT$764
48.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$4.80 NT$152
17.29%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$3.06 NT$96.9
-7.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$0.88 NT$27.84
98.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$0.58 NT$18.39
37.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$1.26 NT$39.72
141.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$1.32 NT$41.84
225.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$2.86 NT$90.3
-43.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$1.22 NT$38.51
86.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$2.60 NT$82.4
-55.00%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$2.22 NT$70.2
-2.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$9.55 NT$302
84.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$7.59 NT$240
-46.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$21.61 NT$684
-43.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$3.88 NT$123
-6.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$2.08 NT$65.7
-21.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$3.02 NT$95.6
-23.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$3.06 NT$96.8
-35.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$2.60 NT$82.2
-29.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$1.95 NT$61.8
21.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$2.41 NT$76.1
-56.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.87 NT$27.58
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$3.98 NT$126
-42.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$10.94 NT$346
110.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.46 NT$46.15
60.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$2.19 NT$69.2
40.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$2.80 NT$88.7
-82.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$0.76 NT$24.03
-38.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$7.19 NT$227
-22.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.00 NT$31.66
-19.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$33.3K NT$1.1M
-25.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$24.4K NT$772.0K
27.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$70.0 NT$2,215
18.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$18.28 NT$578
-64.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$21.95 NT$694
-14.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$10.90 NT$345
-60.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$521 NT$16.5K
-5.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$32.3K NT$1.0M
-81.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$12.91 NT$408
258.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$25.01 NT$791
45.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$62.5 NT$1,977
29.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$97.5 NT$3,082
-19.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$220 NT$6,968
405.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$161 NT$5,094
330.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Miaoli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$2,543 NT$80.4K
-93.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
2.18
532.11%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Miaoli: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $220 in Miaoli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miaoli pays 1422% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $24.00 in Miaoli. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $316, 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 Miaoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Miaoli?
Ubud, Bali and Miaoli differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $788 including rent). Miaoli is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1422% lower in Miaoli. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Miaoli?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $220 in Miaoli. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Miaoli?
All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $788 in Miaoli – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $788 in Miaoli versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Miaoli but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Miaoli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Miaoli?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Miaoli safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Miaoli are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Miaoli?
Expats usually find Miaoli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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