Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Taupo

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,117 in Taupo, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Taupo, New Zealand
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Taupo
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,117
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Taupo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,117 in Taupo.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Taupo $2,117

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,116 in Taupo.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Taupo $3,116

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,115 in Taupo.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Taupo $4,115

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 37% less than in Taupo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% below, Taupo is 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
$14.09 NZ$25.04
-76.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 629.1K
$69.4 NZ$123
-50.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.2K
$9.01 NZ$16.00
-38.18%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.6K
$3.48 NZ$6.17
-24.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.98 NZ$3.52
-22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$1.83 NZ$3.24
-65.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$6.97 NZ$12.37
-61.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.4K
$6.98 NZ$12.41
-38.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.93 NZ$3.43
-24.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$2.25 NZ$3.99
1.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$1.84 NZ$3.26
-39.67%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$6.30 NZ$11.20
-66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.4K
$8.49 NZ$15.08
87.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.5K
$9.99 NZ$17.75
-61.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 207.0K
$17.15 NZ$30.47
-33.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.5K
$2.84 NZ$5.04
25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$2.07 NZ$3.68
-25.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$3.03 NZ$5.39
-26.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$5.89 NZ$10.46
-66.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$2.19 NZ$3.89
-15.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$1.53 NZ$2.73
58.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$2.04 NZ$3.63
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,483
$1.06 NZ$1.88
-50.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$27.30 NZ$48.50
-91.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.6K
$10.45 NZ$18.56
108.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$2.74 NZ$4.87
-14.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$3.38 NZ$6.01
-12.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,546
$1.98 NZ$3.51
-87.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.4K
$105 NZ$186
-92.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,947
$2.32 NZ$4.12
-81.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,496
$2.02 NZ$3.58
-76.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.7K
$32.59 NZ$57.9
-82.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.84 NZ$3.26
-54.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.8M
$27.8K NZ$49.3K
-11.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.5M
$22.3K NZ$39.5K
42.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$185 NZ$329
-58.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.6K
$26.72 NZ$47.47
-77.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.4K
$39.15 NZ$69.6
-51.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.8K
$39.41 NZ$70.0
29.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$12.17 NZ$21.62
-64.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$1,045 NZ$1,857
-52.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.9M
$19.3K NZ$34.3K
-36.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.9K
$80.0 NZ$142
-43.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 633.4K
$41.48 NZ$73.7
-15.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$94.1 NZ$167
-16.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$112 NZ$199
-30.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.6M
$1,029 NZ$1,828
4.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$943 NZ$1,675
-29.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$1,612 NZ$2,864
117.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$1,494 NZ$2,654
11.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.5M
$4,774 NZ$8,481
-50.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$3,373 NZ$5,992
-33.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.37
156.61%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Taupo: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Taupo
$943 41.8% $278
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Taupo
$341 22.1% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Taupo
$147 38.7% $41
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Taupo
$245 132% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Taupo
$251 145% $149
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Taupo
$64 6.7% $4
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Taupo
$125 946% $113

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $1,029 in Taupo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $69 in Taupo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $341 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇳🇿 Taupo
🕒 Local time
06:03 6:03 AM
11:03 11:03 AM
5 h ahead of Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
26,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,155 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,438 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.89 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 2 NZD (1 NZD = 0.5 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Taupo 6,900 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Taupo

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 Taupo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Taupo?
Ubud, Bali is about 37% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, transport, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,996 in Ubud, Bali and $3,175 in Taupo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Taupo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,029 in Taupo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Taupo?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $69 in Taupo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Taupo?
All in, you’ll spend $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,117 in Taupo – Ubud, Bali is about 37% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Ubud, Bali or in Taupo?
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.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Taupo?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Taupo?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Taupo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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