Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Nelson BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,369 a month against $2,228 in Nelson BC, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Nelson BC, Canada
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,369
/mo nomad
Nelson BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,228
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Nelson BC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Nelson BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,369 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,228 in Nelson BC.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,369
  • Nelson BC $2,228

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,302 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,080 in Nelson BC.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,302
  • Nelson BC $3,080

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,236 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,932 in Nelson BC.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,236
  • Nelson BC $3,932

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 39% less than in Nelson BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% above, Nelson BC 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 61.3K
$13.20 CA$18.83
-74.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.50 Rp 627.5K
$58.5 CA$83.5
-41.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.69 Rp 103.5K
$10.91 CA$15.57
-47.85%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.5K
$3.80 CA$5.43
-28.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 Rp 28.4K
$1.95 CA$2.78
-20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 Rp 11.5K
$1.59 CA$2.27
-60.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 49.4K
$4.47 CA$6.38
-39.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 Rp 78.7K
$5.75 CA$8.20
-24.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 Rp 26.9K
$2.04 CA$2.90
-27.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.7K
$2.85 CA$4.07
-19.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 19.9K
$3.43 CA$4.89
-68.22%
Eggs
$2.07 Rp 37.7K
$3.25 CA$4.64
-36.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.73 Rp 286.2K
$9.58 CA$13.67
64.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.04 Rp 73.6K
$13.38 CA$19.10
-69.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.21 Rp 203.9K
$21.18 CA$30.22
-47.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 Rp 66.7K
$3.44 CA$4.91
6.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.8K
$0.64 CA$0.91
146.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.7K
$1.52 CA$2.16
54.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 36.1K
$4.81 CA$6.87
-58.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 34.1K
$3.08 CA$4.40
-39.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 43.3K
$3.13 CA$4.46
-23.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$2.56 CA$3.65
-60.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,660
$1.89 CA$2.70
-71.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21 Rp 40.1K
$14.27 CA$20.36
-84.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.60 Rp 392.9K
$13.37 CA$19.07
61.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 Rp 43.2K
$2.60 CA$3.71
-8.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 Rp 52.6K
$3.06 CA$4.36
-5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,163
$1.54 CA$2.19
-85.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.73 Rp 177.0K
$37.12 CA$53.0
-73.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 8,014
$2.94 CA$4.20
-85.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,482
$1.90 CA$2.72
-75.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.61 Rp 102.0K
$35.74 CA$51.0
-84.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 Rp 16.2K
$1.21 CA$1.73
-26.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 445.0M
$28.0K CA$39.9K
-12.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K Rp 586.9M
$18.1K CA$25.9K
77.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.1 Rp 1.4M
$130 CA$185
-40.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.43 Rp 116.9K
$42.20 CA$60.2
-84.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.33 Rp 351.6K
$56.3 CA$80.4
-65.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$57.4 CA$81.9
37.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70 Rp 340.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 77.9K
$11.30 CA$16.13
-62.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 Rp 8.9M
$1,024 CA$1,462
-52.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K Rp 225.4M
$21.1K CA$30.1K
-41.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.14 Rp 821.1K
$48.24 CA$68.8
-6.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.54 Rp 646.5K
$41.54 CA$59.3
-14.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$86.2 CA$123
-8.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$99.7 CA$142
-22.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 Rp 19.9M
$1,350 CA$1,927
-19.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 Rp 12.2M
$1,127 CA$1,609
-40.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,476 Rp 63.2M
$2,118 CA$3,023
64.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 Rp 30.2M
$1,482 CA$2,115
12.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,381 Rp 43.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,186 Rp 39.8M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Nelson BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$3,154 CA$4,500
-94.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.62
198.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 10, 2026

Last update for Nelson BC: November 8, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$670
Nelson BC
$1.1K 68.2% $457
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$280
Nelson BC
$380 35.7% $100
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Nelson BC
$232 115% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Nelson BC
$124 16.2% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Nelson BC
$228 122% $126
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$88
Nelson BC
$80 8.7% $7.6
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Nelson BC
$56 315% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,093 in Ubud, Bali and $1,350 in Nelson BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nelson BC pays about 19 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $34 in Ubud, Bali vs $59 in Nelson BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $380 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇨🇦 Nelson BC
🕒 Local time
13:18 1:18 PM
22:18 10:18 PM
15 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
10,664
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 15, 2026: 1 USD = 18,190 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,060 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.701 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.636 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Nelson BC 13,370 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Nelson BC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nelson BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Nelson BC?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,369 in Ubud, Bali and $2,228 in Nelson BC, so Ubud, Bali is about 39% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 95% lower in Ubud, Bali. 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 Nelson BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,093 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,350 in Nelson BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Nelson BC?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 74% less than in Nelson BC. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Nelson BC?
Childcare runs $488 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,024 in Nelson BC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Nelson BC?
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 Nelson BC safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Nelson BC are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Nelson BC?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Nelson BC. 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

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