Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zhongli City

For one person, living is cheaper in Zhongli City: $993 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Zhongli City
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$993
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Zhongli City

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $993 in Zhongli City.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Zhongli City $993

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,675 in Zhongli City.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Zhongli City $1,675

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,357 in Zhongli City.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Zhongli City $2,357

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 38% more expensive than in Zhongli City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, Zhongli City is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$4.62 NT$150
-27.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$31.29 NT$1,015
12.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$4.77 NT$155
21.59%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.57 NT$83.4
6.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.03 NT$33.52
59.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.69 NT$22.35
20.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$1.61 NT$52.2
67.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$2.75 NT$89.1
56.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$3.18 NT$103
-52.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$1.74 NT$56.3
32.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$2.71 NT$87.9
-56.46%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$2.60 NT$84.3
-17.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$12.77 NT$414
36.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$7.09 NT$230
-43.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$15.39 NT$499
-20.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$3.74 NT$121
-5.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.97 NT$63.8
-20.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$3.08 NT$99.9
-27.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$2.22 NT$72.1
-13.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$1.23 NT$39.81
52.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$1.90 NT$61.5
20.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$2.44 NT$79.0
-59.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$0.85 NT$27.52
-37.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$3.77 NT$122
-39.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$15.45 NT$501
48.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.55 NT$50.2
50.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.55 NT$82.8
14.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.61 NT$19.90
-60.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$37.64 NT$1,221
-76.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$2.68 NT$86.8
-82.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$0.58 NT$18.72
-20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$9.61 NT$312
-43.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$0.97 NT$31.60
-9.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$33.1K NT$1.1M
-25.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$23.3K NT$754.6K
34.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$106 NT$3,433
-21.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$14.76 NT$479
-56.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$17.14 NT$556
8.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$9.62 NT$312
-54.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$344 NT$11.1K
43.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$16.9K NT$546.5K
-65.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$72.1 NT$2,338
-35.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$36.46 NT$1,182
-3.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$55.0 NT$1,782
43.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$108 NT$3,505
-27.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$448 NT$14.5K
154.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$251 NT$8,125
169.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$874 NT$28.3K
300.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$716 NT$23.2K
137.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zhongli City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$2,288 NT$74.2K
-92.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
2.1
556.19%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Zhongli City: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Zhongli City
$251 62.9% $425
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Zhongli City
$315 8.6% $25
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Zhongli City
$103 5.7% $6.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Zhongli City
$138 27.5% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Zhongli City
$122 13.6% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Zhongli City
$19 * 70.2% $45
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Zhongli City
$46 264% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $448 in Zhongli City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongli City pays 1291% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $31.00 in Zhongli City. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $315, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇹🇼 Zhongli City
🕒 Local time
09:46 9:46 AM
09:46 9:46 AM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
396,453
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Zhongli City 3,780 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Zhongli City

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 Zhongli City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zhongli City?
Zhongli City wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhongli City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Zhongli City?
On paper, salaries run 1291% lower in Zhongli City. 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 Zhongli City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $448 in Zhongli City. 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 Zhongli City?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $344 in Zhongli City. 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 Zhongli City?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Zhongli City?
At $993 in Zhongli City versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhongli City but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zhongli City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zhongli City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zhongli City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $993 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zhongli City hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zhongli City?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zhongli City 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 Zhongli City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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