Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Waiheke Island and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $1,908 in Waiheke Island, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Waiheke Island
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,908
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Waiheke Island and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Waiheke Island and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,908 in Waiheke Island versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Waiheke Island $1,908
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,944 in Waiheke Island versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Waiheke Island $2,944
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,979 in Waiheke Island versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Waiheke Island $3,979
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Waiheke Island is roughly 40% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waiheke Island 41% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.57 NZ$25.76
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
337.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5 NZ$121
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
94.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.82 NZ$15.59
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
52.07%
Cappuccino
$3.28 NZ$5.80
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
20.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 NZ$4.01
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
38.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 NZ$2.83
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
92.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 NZ$10.66
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
123.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.46 NZ$11.42
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
50.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 NZ$2.71
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
2.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 NZ$3.46
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-14.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 NZ$3.16
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
51.69%
Eggs
$4.93 NZ$8.72
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
130.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.13 NZ$14.38
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-53.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.06 NZ$14.25
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
100.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.90 NZ$26.35
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
21.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 NZ$3.99
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-36.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 NZ$4.06
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
46.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 NZ$6.02
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
51.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.44 NZ$9.62
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
181.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 NZ$3.66
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
10.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 NZ$2.82
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-30.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 NZ$3.66
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
109.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 NZ$1.73
$0.53 Rp 9,475
84.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.85 NZ$38.64
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
858.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.93 NZ$15.80
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-61.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 NZ$5.32
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
28.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 NZ$5.62
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
9.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.88 NZ$3.32
$0.24 Rp 4,315
683.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 NZ$130
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
735.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 NZ$4.04
$0.48 Rp 8,684
375.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 NZ$3.32
$0.46 Rp 8,233
306.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.71 NZ$54.3
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
463.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.92
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
87.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K NZ$49.8K
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
14.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K NZ$39.4K
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-28.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 NZ$181
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
22.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.42 NZ$48.48
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
325.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.86 NZ$77.6
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
136.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.44 NZ$69.8
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-29.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.70 NZ$20.69
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
167.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 NZ$1,019
$493 Rp 8.9M
16.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K NZ$31.8K
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
212.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1 NZ$124
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
51.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.02 NZ$63.7
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
1.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 NZ$186
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
32.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 NZ$189
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
36.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 NZ$1,854
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-8.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 NZ$1,573
$676 Rp 12.2M
31.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 NZ$2,873
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-53.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,610 NZ$2,847
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-5.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,251 NZ$9,286
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
88.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,477 NZ$6,149
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
55.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waiheke Island
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.78
-59.58%

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

Last update for Waiheke Island: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Waiheke Island
$890
Ubud, Bali
$676 24.1% $214
Groceries & Markets
Waiheke Island
$306
Ubud, Bali
$290 5% $15
Eating Out
Waiheke Island
$241
Ubud, Bali
$109 54.8% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waiheke Island
$173
Ubud, Bali
$108 37.7% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Waiheke Island
$143
Ubud, Bali
$108 24.9% $36
Getting Around
Waiheke Island
$93
Ubud, Bali
$13 86.5% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Waiheke Island
$63
Ubud, Bali
$65 2.8% $1.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,048 in Waiheke Island and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $68.0 in Waiheke Island vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $290 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Waiheke Island
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
10:15 10:15 AM
05:15 5:15 AM
5 h behind Waiheke Island
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,950
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Waiheke Island Ubud, Bali 6,770 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Waiheke Island
  • Ubud, Bali

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
Waiheke Island vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Waiheke Island or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Waiheke Island. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Waiheke Island and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $2,863 in Waiheke Island and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Waiheke Island compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,048 in Waiheke Island versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Waiheke Island and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $576 in Waiheke Island versus $493 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Waiheke Island or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Waiheke Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Waiheke Island or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,908 in Waiheke Island, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Waiheke Island. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Waiheke Island or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Waiheke Island compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Waiheke Island and Ubud, Bali 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 40% less than in Waiheke Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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