Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Whangarei

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $1,458 in Whangarei, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Whangarei despite lower rent and utilities.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Whangarei
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,458
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,458 in Whangarei.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Whangarei $1,458

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,290 in Whangarei.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Whangarei $2,290

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,121 in Whangarei.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Whangarei $3,121

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 7% less than in Whangarei, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Whangarei 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$12.15 NZ$21.49
-73.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$74.0 NZ$131
-52.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$8.48 NZ$14.99
-32.78%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$3.32 NZ$5.88
-21.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$2.02 NZ$3.57
-14.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.61 NZ$2.85
-49.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$6.01 NZ$10.62
-55.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$5.78 NZ$10.23
-24.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.48 NZ$2.62
6.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.24 NZ$2.20
76.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.68 NZ$2.97
-29.76%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$5.44 NZ$9.61
-60.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$5.51 NZ$9.74
220.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$7.52 NZ$13.30
-49.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$15.29 NZ$27.04
-21.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$2.56 NZ$4.52
40.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$2.11 NZ$3.73
-24.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$2.90 NZ$5.13
-20.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$3.05 NZ$5.40
-37.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$2.28 NZ$4.04
-21.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.71 NZ$3.03
36.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$1.66 NZ$2.93
-39.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$1.17 NZ$2.07
-54.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$25.92 NZ$45.84
-91.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$9.81 NZ$17.35
124.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$2.21 NZ$3.90
6.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.74 NZ$4.85
8.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$1.71 NZ$3.03
-86.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
$130 NZ$230
-93.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$3.63 NZ$6.42
-87.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$1.60 NZ$2.82
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$13.85 NZ$24.50
-60.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.74 NZ$3.07
-52.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$28.9K NZ$51.1K
-17.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$22.0K NZ$38.9K
49.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$149 NZ$264
-46.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$27.61 NZ$48.83
-76.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$50.2 NZ$88.7
-62.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$35.33 NZ$62.5
53.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$2.85 NZ$5.04
541.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$10.25 NZ$18.13
-58.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$699 NZ$1,236
-29.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$23.1K NZ$40.8K
-75.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$71.7 NZ$127
-36.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$32.82 NZ$58.0
6.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$70.1 NZ$124
10.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$90.9 NZ$161
-13.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$426 NZ$754
165.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$414 NZ$732
62.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$766 NZ$1,355
371.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$739 NZ$1,307
130.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$4,260 NZ$7,535
-36.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$3,263 NZ$5,770
-31.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Whangarei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$2,346 NZ$4,149
-92.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.75
139.65%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Whangarei: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Whangarei
$414 38.5% $259
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Whangarei
$275 4.2% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Whangarei
$119 12.1% $13
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Whangarei
$219 105% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Whangarei
$227 116% $122
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Whangarei
$56 10.8% $6.8
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Whangarei
$149 1095% $136

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $426 in Whangarei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Whangarei pays 1310% 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: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $74.0 in Whangarei. Groceries flip the comparison at $287 vs $275, with Whangarei cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇳🇿 Whangarei
🕒 Local time
19:40 7:40 PM
00:40 12:40 AM
5 h ahead of Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
54,300
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Whangarei 6,680 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Whangarei

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 Whangarei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Whangarei?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Whangarei. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Whangarei?
On paper, salaries run 1310% lower in Whangarei. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Whangarei?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $426 in Whangarei. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Whangarei?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $699 in Whangarei. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Whangarei?
Shoppers in Whangarei pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Whangarei?
At $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,458 in Whangarei, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Whangarei. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Whangarei?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,353 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Whangarei?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Whangarei 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Whangarei. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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