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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,041 in Paihia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,016 in Paihia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,990 in Paihia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 33% cheaper than Paihia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Paihia sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Paihia by 49%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$14.58 NZ$25.49

-76.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$34.60 NZ$60.5

4.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$8.43 NZ$14.74

-32.27%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$3.53 NZ$6.18

-24.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$2.11 NZ$3.69

-17.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$1.82 NZ$3.18

-52.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$7.01 NZ$12.26

-57.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$7.04 NZ$12.31

-35.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.89 NZ$3.30

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$2.17 NZ$3.79

7.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.90 NZ$3.32

-41.58%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$6.35 NZ$11.10

-65.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$9.11 NZ$15.92

94.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$10.04 NZ$17.55

-59.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$17.81 NZ$31.13

-31.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.97 NZ$5.19

24.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$2.08 NZ$3.64

-23.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$3.01 NZ$5.26

-24.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$5.62 NZ$9.82

-65.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$2.24 NZ$3.91

-14.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.61 NZ$2.81

44.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$2.05 NZ$3.58

-50.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$1.08 NZ$1.89

-49.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$28.47 NZ$49.78

-92.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$10.63 NZ$18.59

117.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$2.80 NZ$4.90

-13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$3.40 NZ$5.95

-11.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$1.58 NZ$2.76

-82.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$84.7 NZ$148

-89.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$1.74 NZ$3.04

-72.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$2.04 NZ$3.56

-78.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$32.59 NZ$57.0

-82.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.94 NZ$3.39

-58.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$26.2K NZ$45.8K

-4.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$22.9K NZ$40.1K

38.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$190 NZ$332

-57.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$27.17 NZ$47.50

-76.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$51.6 NZ$90.1

-63.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$39.45 NZ$69.0

44.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$13.06 NZ$22.84

-65.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$481 Rp 8.5M

$1,165 NZ$2,036

-58.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$19.8K NZ$34.5K

-71.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$80.1 NZ$140

-43.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$40.98 NZ$71.7

-12.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$89.5 NZ$157

-10.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$112 NZ$197

-30.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$960 NZ$1,679

16.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$903 NZ$1,579

-22.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$1,429 NZ$2,498

154.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$1,288 NZ$2,251

34.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$4,684 NZ$8,189

-40.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$3,383 NZ$5,914

-32.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

5.4

155.19%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Paihia: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $960 in Paihia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $35.00 in Paihia. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $345 in Paihia – so Ubud, Bali wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Paihia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $2,041 in Paihia – roughly 49% apart. Paihia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,062 in Paihia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Paihia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $35.00 in Paihia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Paihia at $2,041. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paihia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,368 in Ubud, Bali to $2,041 in Paihia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paihia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.