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: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,730 in Queenstown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,283 in Queenstown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,836 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 6% above, Queenstown 104% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$14.92 NZ$25.19
-76.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$85.1 NZ$144
-61.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$9.47 NZ$15.99
-47.73%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$3.50 NZ$5.90
-22.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$2.45 NZ$4.14
-45.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$2.34 NZ$3.95
-70.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$7.13 NZ$12.03
-59.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$5.90 NZ$9.96
-32.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$2.27 NZ$3.84
-20.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$2.05 NZ$3.46
22.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$2.51 NZ$4.24
-53.78%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$6.29 NZ$10.62
-60.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$10.13 NZ$17.10
45.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$10.72 NZ$18.10
-59.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$16.79 NZ$28.34
-27.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$3.15 NZ$5.32
21.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$2.48 NZ$4.18
-37.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$4.15 NZ$7.01
-31.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$5.83 NZ$9.84
-60.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$2.69 NZ$4.54
-29.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$2.34 NZ$3.95
-5.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$2.80 NZ$4.73
-63.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.10 NZ$1.85
-29.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$29.38 NZ$49.60
-88.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$10.29 NZ$17.38
130.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$4.85 NZ$8.19
-42.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$6.85 NZ$11.57
-58.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$2.75 NZ$4.64
-90.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$128 NZ$216
-93.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$2.81 NZ$4.75
-83.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$1.82 NZ$3.07
-75.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$31.15 NZ$52.6
-80.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.67 NZ$2.83
-52.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$30.0K NZ$50.7K
-12.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$17.9K NZ$30.2K
79.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$282 NZ$477
-71.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$40.45 NZ$68.3
-89.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$62.3 NZ$105
-62.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$57.6 NZ$97.3
71.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$24.81 NZ$41.89
-73.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$13.14 NZ$22.19
-68.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$490 NZ$827
-37.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$6,906 NZ$11.7K
-4.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$87.9 NZ$148
-36.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$50.0 NZ$84.4
-23.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$98.4 NZ$166
-9.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$278 NZ$469
-71.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,461 NZ$2,466
-31.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$1,298 NZ$2,192
-47.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$3,037 NZ$5,127
13.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$2,556 NZ$4,315
-20.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$8,161 NZ$13.8K
-65.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$5,609 NZ$9,469
-59.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Queenstown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$3,223 NZ$5,441
-94.87%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Queenstown: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $1,461 in Queenstown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Queenstown pays 1850% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $85.0 in Queenstown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $385 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 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Queenstown?
On paper, Queenstown earns 1850% less. 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: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,461 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 Queenstown?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $85.0 in Queenstown. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Queenstown?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,730 in Queenstown – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Queenstown?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,730 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 92% less than in Queenstown. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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