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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,721 in Queenstown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,293 in Queenstown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,865 in Queenstown.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 48% less than in Queenstown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Queenstown 104% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
$15.10 NZ$25.86
-77.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
$84.2 NZ$144
-61.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
$9.83 NZ$16.83
-50.76%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$3.42 NZ$5.86
-19.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
$2.36 NZ$4.04
-41.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$2.33 NZ$3.99
-67.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
$7.16 NZ$12.25
-58.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
$6.12 NZ$10.48
-37.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$2.17 NZ$3.71
-19.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$2.09 NZ$3.58
17.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$2.42 NZ$4.15
-51.65%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
$6.60 NZ$11.31
-63.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
$9.98 NZ$17.09
45.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
$10.66 NZ$18.26
-59.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
$16.55 NZ$28.34
-27.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
$3.12 NZ$5.34
19.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$2.51 NZ$4.30
-35.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$4.00 NZ$6.85
-31.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$5.94 NZ$10.17
-62.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
$2.58 NZ$4.41
-25.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
$2.27 NZ$3.89
0.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.82 NZ$4.82
-62.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.11 NZ$1.91
-35.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$28.36 NZ$48.56
-88.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
$9.73 NZ$16.67
138.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$4.73 NZ$8.10
-41.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
$7.10 NZ$12.16
-61.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,778
$2.73 NZ$4.67
-90.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
$128 NZ$219
-93.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,659
$2.85 NZ$4.88
-83.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,532
$1.87 NZ$3.19
-77.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
$31.84 NZ$54.5
-80.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.67 NZ$2.86
-51.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
$29.7K NZ$50.8K
-10.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
$17.8K NZ$30.5K
80.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$283 NZ$485
-72.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
$40.99 NZ$70.2
-90.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
$64.0 NZ$110
-61.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$58.7 NZ$101
67.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
$24.66 NZ$42.22
-74.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
$13.46 NZ$23.04
-70.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$498 NZ$853
-38.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
$7,085 NZ$12.1K
-6.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
$87.2 NZ$149
-37.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
$49.34 NZ$84.5
-23.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$97.7 NZ$167
-11.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$283 NZ$484
-73.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$1,491 NZ$2,553
-33.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$1,270 NZ$2,175
-47.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
$3,030 NZ$5,188
11.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$2,587 NZ$4,430
-20.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
$7,658 NZ$13.1K
-63.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
$5,369 NZ$9,193
-58.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$3,095 NZ$5,300
-94.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.74
97.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Queenstown: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $1,491 in Queenstown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Queenstown pays 1754% 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 $84.0 in Queenstown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $382 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 Queenstown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Queenstown cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Queenstown?
On paper, salaries run 1754% lower in Queenstown. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Queenstown?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,491 in Queenstown. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Queenstown?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $84.0 in Queenstown. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Queenstown?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,721 in Queenstown – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Queenstown?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,721 in Queenstown, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Queenstown. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Queenstown more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Queenstown, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Queenstown?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Queenstown 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Queenstown. 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

Similar cities