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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,882 in Taupo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,944 in Taupo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,005 in Taupo.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 26% less than in Taupo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Taupo 41% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$15.04 NZ$25.49
-76.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$78.0 NZ$132
-58.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$9.76 NZ$16.55
-48.67%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$3.36 NZ$5.70
-16.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$2.25 NZ$3.82
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$2.29 NZ$3.88
-68.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$7.09 NZ$12.01
-58.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$7.17 NZ$12.16
-45.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.82 NZ$3.08
-2.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$2.10 NZ$3.55
16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$2.00 NZ$3.38
-42.50%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$6.97 NZ$11.82
-65.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$8.92 NZ$15.13
60.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$9.38 NZ$15.90
-55.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$12.75 NZ$21.62
-5.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$2.94 NZ$4.99
23.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.26 NZ$3.84
-30.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$3.37 NZ$5.71
-17.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$4.21 NZ$7.13
-46.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$2.04 NZ$3.47
-2.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.72 NZ$2.91
32.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$1.98 NZ$3.35
-46.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.29 NZ$2.18
-38.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$25.45 NZ$43.14
-87.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$10.51 NZ$17.81
123.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$3.06 NZ$5.18
-5.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$3.96 NZ$6.71
-30.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$2.08 NZ$3.52
-87.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$65.3 NZ$111
-87.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$2.12 NZ$3.60
-78.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$1.98 NZ$3.36
-76.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$34.75 NZ$58.9
-82.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.63 NZ$2.76
-47.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$28.1K NZ$47.6K
-5.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$22.4K NZ$37.9K
45.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$146 NZ$247
-45.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$30.96 NZ$52.5
-86.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$47.84 NZ$81.1
-50.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$37.38 NZ$63.4
164.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$12.03 NZ$20.39
-47.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$14.96 NZ$25.37
-73.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$895 NZ$1,517
-66.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$13.4K NZ$22.6K
-50.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$70.2 NZ$119
-23.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$50.1 NZ$84.9
-23.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$99.9 NZ$169
-11.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$124 NZ$210
-38.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$964 NZ$1,634
5.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$793 NZ$1,344
-14.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$1,590 NZ$2,695
118.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$1,426 NZ$2,417
46.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$4,956 NZ$8,401
-44.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$3,466 NZ$5,876
-33.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Taupo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.37
108.48%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Taupo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $964 in Taupo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $78.0 in Taupo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $327 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 Taupo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taupo cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $2,823 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $964 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 $32.00 versus $78.0 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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,882 in Taupo – a 35% 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 Taupo?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,882 in Taupo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Taupo. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Taupo more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Taupo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Taupo?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Taupo 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 35% less than in Taupo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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