Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Waterloo, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,877 in Waterloo, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,559 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,558 in Waterloo, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,724 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,240 in Waterloo, IA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Waterloo, IA 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 Rp 59.7K

$18.23 $18.23

-80.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.88 Rp 564.0K

$64.9 $64.9

-49.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 Rp 87.3K

$9.93 $9.93

-48.74%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 47.1K

$5.21 $5.21

-47.22%

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

$1.38 Rp 23.7K

$2.73 $2.73

-49.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$2.47 $2.47

-71.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 Rp 49.4K

$6.06 $6.06

-52.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 Rp 66.4K

$6.84 $6.84

-43.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 30.7K

$1.03 $1.03

73.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 42.0K

$1.85 $1.85

32.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.7K

$1.68 $1.68

-27.98%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 40.9K

$2.86 $2.86

-16.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.70 Rp 252.1K

$9.36 $9.36

57.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 Rp 72.7K

$6.36 $6.36

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.08 Rp 207.1K

$12.79 $12.79

-5.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 Rp 62.9K

$3.69 $3.69

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.6K

$1.22 $1.22

31.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 Rp 46.6K

$3.31 $3.31

-17.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 39.0K

$4.48 $4.48

-49.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$1.17 $1.17

62.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 39.4K

$2.11 $2.11

9.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 17.4K

$1.91 $1.91

-46.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

$1.57 $1.57

-50.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 Rp 55.7K

$7.91 $7.91

-59.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.06 Rp 412.7K

$13.25 $13.25

81.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 48.7K

$1.76 $1.76

61.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 47.8K

$1.77 $1.77

57.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,610

$2.05 $2.05

-86.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.24 Rp 141.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,708

$5.05 $5.05

-91.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,305

$1.37 $1.37

-68.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 Rp 103.3K

$29.75 $29.75

-79.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 14.7K

$0.83 $0.83

3.61%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.1M

$36.1K $36.1K

-27.88%

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

$31.7K Rp 543.7M

$25.7K $25.7K

23.18%

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

$78.3 Rp 1.3M

$202 $202

-61.28%

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

$4.00 Rp 68.5K

$48.26 $48.26

-91.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.35 Rp 417.7K

$59.8 $59.8

-59.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.8 Rp 1.6M

$43.64 $43.64

119.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 Rp 110.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 68.7K

$13.97 $13.97

-71.30%

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

$302 Rp 5.2M

$1,453 $1,453

-79.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,545 Rp 112.3M

$29.8K $29.8K

-78.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 916.3K

$39.03 $39.03

36.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.55 Rp 661.2K

$42.28 $42.28

-8.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 Rp 1.5M

$58.3 $58.3

52.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$129 $129

-38.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 Rp 17.4M

$854 $854

18.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 Rp 11.5M

$755 $755

-10.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,368 Rp 57.8M

$2,037 $2,037

65.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 Rp 36.2M

$863 $863

144.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,001 Rp 51.5M

$1,508 $1,508

99.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,337 Rp 40.1M

$1,481 $1,481

57.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 Rp 3.0M

$3,582 $3,582

-95.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.43

106.53%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali and $854 in Waterloo, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waterloo, IA pays 1918% 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 in Ubud, Bali vs $65 in Waterloo, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $280, with Waterloo, IA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Waterloo, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Waterloo, IA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Waterloo, IA earns 1918% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $854 in Waterloo, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Waterloo, IA pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,877 in Waterloo, IA – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,877 in Waterloo, IA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Waterloo, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,395 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Waterloo, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Waterloo, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.