Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and North Shore

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $2,119 in North Shore, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
North Shore
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,119
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in North Shore

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 North Shore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,119 in North Shore.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • North Shore $2,119

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,933 in North Shore.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • North Shore $2,933

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,746 in North Shore.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • North Shore $3,746

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 35% less than in North Shore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, North Shore 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$14.08 NZ$24.90
-76.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$73.5 NZ$130
-52.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$8.46 NZ$14.96
-31.44%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.27 NZ$5.78
-16.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.93 NZ$3.42
-15.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.78 NZ$3.15
-53.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$6.53 NZ$11.55
-58.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$5.61 NZ$9.92
-23.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.61 NZ$2.85
-6.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$1.30 NZ$2.29
76.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.89 NZ$3.33
-37.57%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$5.68 NZ$10.05
-62.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$7.74 NZ$13.69
125.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$10.02 NZ$17.72
-59.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$11.56 NZ$20.45
5.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.62 NZ$4.63
35.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.05 NZ$3.63
-23.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$3.14 NZ$5.56
-28.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$5.84 NZ$10.33
-66.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$2.08 NZ$3.67
-9.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$1.51 NZ$2.67
51.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$2.39 NZ$4.22
-58.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$0.95 NZ$1.68
-44.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$25.48 NZ$45.06
-91.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$10.33 NZ$18.26
122.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$2.74 NZ$4.84
-14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$3.34 NZ$5.90
-12.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$2.21 NZ$3.90
-89.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$59.5 NZ$105
-85.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$2.22 NZ$3.93
-78.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$1.92 NZ$3.39
-76.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$32.25 NZ$57.0
-83.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.71 NZ$3.02
-48.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$25.4K NZ$44.9K
-3.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$22.4K NZ$39.5K
39.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$181 NZ$321
-54.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$26.42 NZ$46.73
-75.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$50.6 NZ$89.5
-63.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$27.16 NZ$48.03
105.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$13.05 NZ$23.07
-66.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$672 NZ$1,188
-26.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$14.4K NZ$25.5K
-60.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$68.9 NZ$122
-32.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$37.87 NZ$67.0
-6.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$93.1 NZ$165
-15.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$103 NZ$182
-23.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$1,302 NZ$2,303
-12.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$1,050 NZ$1,856
-35.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$2,278 NZ$4,029
53.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$1,339 NZ$2,369
26.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$7,194 NZ$12.7K
-61.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$6,028 NZ$10.7K
-62.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
North Shore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$2,774 NZ$4,905
-94.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.63
107.84%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for North Shore: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
North Shore
$1K 55.3% $374
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
North Shore
$306 5.3% $15
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
North Shore
$236 117% $127
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
North Shore
$258 139% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
North Shore
$136 26.8% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
North Shore
$53 17.5% $11
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
North Shore
$80 539% $68

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $1,302 in North Shore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

North Shore pays 1586% 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: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $73.0 in North Shore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $306 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇳🇿 North Shore
🕒 Local time
06:10 6:10 AM
11:10 11:10 AM
5 h ahead of Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
258,697
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali North Shore 6,740 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • North Shore

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 North Shore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in North Shore?
Ubud, Bali and North Shore differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $2,119 including rent). Ubud, Bali 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 1586% lower in North Shore. 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 North Shore?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,302 in North Shore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $73.0 in North Shore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or North Shore?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,119 in North Shore – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,119 in North Shore, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in North Shore. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and North Shore?
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 North Shore safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and North Shore 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 North Shore?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in North Shore. 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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