🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,260 in Mount Isa.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,316 in Mount Isa.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,372 in Mount Isa.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 38% less than in Mount Isa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali5% above, Mount Isa70% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.3K
$16.09A$22.90
-77.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32Rp 581.4K
$77.3A$110
-58.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01Rp 90.1K
$9.66A$13.76
-48.14%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 50.8K
$3.49A$4.97
-19.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Rp 24.3K
$2.49A$3.54
-45.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$2.19A$3.12
-66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93Rp 52.8K
$6.41A$9.13
-54.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 70.8K
$6.92A$9.85
-43.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78Rp 32.0K
$1.50A$2.13
18.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45Rp 44.1K
$2.35A$3.35
4.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$2.01A$2.86
-42.79%
Eggs
$2.41Rp 43.4K
$3.16A$4.50
-23.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33Rp 257.8K
$8.59A$12.23
66.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19Rp 75.3K
$8.35A$11.88
-49.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06Rp 216.9K
$13.43A$19.12
-10.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64Rp 65.4K
$3.17A$4.51
14.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$2.81A$4.00
-44.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.1K
$2.96A$4.21
-5.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$4.17A$5.93
-46.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.6K
$2.42A$3.44
-18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 41.0K
$2.08A$2.96
9.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$2.17A$3.09
-51.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.57A$2.23
-49.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19Rp 57.4K
$30.37A$43.22
-89.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 422.6K
$13.28A$18.91
76.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.1K
$4.50A$6.40
-35.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 49.6K
$5.45A$7.75
-49.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,796
$2.66A$3.79
-89.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 150.5K
$65.7A$93.6
-87.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,138
$3.66A$5.21
-87.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,269
$1.59A$2.26
-71.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.2K
$33.83A$48.16
-82.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.6K
$1.13A$1.61
-23.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.3M
$28.8KA$40.9K
-7.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 585.6M
$22.6KA$32.1K
44.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rp 1.4M
$183A$261
-56.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.6K
$27.43A$39.04
-85.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85Rp 429.0K
$42.21A$60.1
-43.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.8M
$49.08A$69.9
101.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 114.3K
$15.88A$22.60
-60.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.1K
$13.14A$18.70
-69.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.3M
$1,627A$2,316
-81.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,602Rp 118.8M
$12.1KA$17.2K
-45.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4Rp 961.1K
$67.1A$95.5
-20.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11Rp 685.7K
$50.6A$72.0
-24.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$99.3A$141
-10.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6Rp 1.4M
$109A$155
-29.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020Rp 18.3M
$1,281A$1,824
-20.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680Rp 12.2M
$1,085A$1,544
-37.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,469Rp 62.4M
$2,030A$2,889
70.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,090Rp 37.6M
$1,678A$2,388
24.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,729Rp 49.1M
$5,727A$8,151
-52.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.3M
$4,573A$6,509
-49.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mount Isa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 2.9M
$4,381A$6,235
-96.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.34
109.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Last update for Mount Isa: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $1,281 in Mount Isa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mount Isa pays 2576% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $77.0 in Mount Isa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $331 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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 Mount Isa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Mount Isa?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Mount Isa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Mount Isa?
On paper, salaries run 2576% lower in Mount Isa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Mount Isa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,281 in Mount Isa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Mount Isa?
Childcare runs $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,627 in Mount Isa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Mount Isa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Mount Isa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Mount Isa?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,260 in Mount Isa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mount Isa. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Mount Isa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,392 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Mount Isa?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Mount Isa 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Mount Isa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared