Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zhubei City

For one person, living is cheaper in Zhubei City: $1,029 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Zhubei City, Taiwan
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Zhubei City
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,029
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Zhubei 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 Zhubei City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,029 in Zhubei City.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Zhubei City $1,029

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,814 in Zhubei City.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Zhubei City $1,814

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,599 in Zhubei City.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Zhubei City $2,599

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 31% more expensive than in Zhubei City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$4.73 NT$154
-29.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
$27.28 NT$890
30.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
$5.11 NT$167
8.22%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$2.79 NT$90.8
-2.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.91 NT$29.51
86.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.57 NT$18.62
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$1.86 NT$60.7
42.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$2.20 NT$71.9
99.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$2.76 NT$90.1
-46.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$1.77 NT$57.8
28.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$4.50 NT$147
-73.56%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$2.74 NT$89.3
-25.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
$24.58 NT$801
-27.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$8.13 NT$265
-51.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
$24.77 NT$808
-50.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
$4.08 NT$133
-10.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$2.44 NT$79.5
-37.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$2.73 NT$88.9
-18.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$3.31 NT$108
-40.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$3.05 NT$99.4
-39.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$2.02 NT$65.7
19.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$1.97 NT$64.3
-49.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,313
$1.32 NT$43.00
-61.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$3.94 NT$129
-43.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
$9.10 NT$297
144.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.41 NT$45.88
60.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$2.25 NT$73.5
32.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,553
$0.59 NT$19.18
-57.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,972
$3.08 NT$101
-85.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,801
$0.59 NT$19.10
-27.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
$9.28 NT$302
-41.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.02 NT$33.33
-19.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
$33.2K NT$1.1M
-28.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
$24.0K NT$783.2K
32.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$98.5 NT$3,211
-19.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
$18.80 NT$613
-65.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
$22.96 NT$749
-19.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
$31.27 NT$1,019
58.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
$9.95 NT$325
-57.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$642 NT$20.9K
-23.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
$16.5K NT$537.1K
-65.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
$56.1 NT$1,830
-20.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
$30.46 NT$993
14.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$89.7 NT$2,926
-10.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$98.4 NT$3,207
-19.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$495 NT$16.1K
127.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$208 NT$6,773
223.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$1,060 NT$34.6K
236.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$776 NT$25.3K
122.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$15.8K NT$514.7K
-82.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$9,406 NT$306.7K
-75.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$2,393 NT$78.0K
-93.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
2.4
474.17%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Zhubei City
$208 69.1% $464
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Zhubei City
$392 35.9% $104
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Zhubei City
$106 1.3% $1.4
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Zhubei City
$124 15% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Zhubei City
$140 34.8% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Zhubei City
$51 11.8% $6.9
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Zhubei City
$8.4 * 26.7% $3.1

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 $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $495 in Zhubei City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhubei City pays about 15 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $27 in Zhubei City. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $392, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇹🇼 Zhubei City
🕒 Local time
15:09 3:09 PM
15:09 3:09 PM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
211,746
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,252 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 32.61 TWD (100 TWD = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 36.41 TWD (100 TWD = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Zhubei City 3,760 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Zhubei 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 Zhubei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zhubei City?
Zhubei City wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Zhubei City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Zhubei City?
On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Ubud, Bali. 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 Zhubei City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $495 in Zhubei City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Zhubei City?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Zhubei City?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,029 in Zhubei City – Zhubei City is about 24% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Zhubei City?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Zhubei City is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Zhubei City?
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.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zhubei City?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zhubei City are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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