😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,040 in Waikiki, HI versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,670 in Waikiki, HI versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,301 in Waikiki, HI versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Waikiki, HI is roughly 122% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waikiki, HI122% above, Ubud, Bali0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.47$25.47
$3.44Rp 61.0K
640.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141$141
$36.31Rp 644.2K
287.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.88$14.88
$5.71Rp 101.2K
160.60%
Cappuccino
$5.96$5.96
$2.67Rp 47.4K
123.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85$4.85
$1.75Rp 31.0K
177.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65$3.65
$0.87Rp 15.5K
319.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.01$10.01
$2.95Rp 52.4K
239.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.78$10.78
$4.52Rp 80.2K
138.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-38.89%
White Bread(500g)
$3.54$3.54
$2.33Rp 41.3K
51.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$10.05$10.05
$1.11Rp 19.6K
805.41%
Eggs
$8.53$8.53
$2.20Rp 39.0K
287.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.48$12.48
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-29.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.68$19.68
$4.10Rp 72.7K
380.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.75$21.75
$12.18Rp 216.0K
78.57%
Apples(1kg)
$8.09$8.09
$3.71Rp 65.8K
118.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-0.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.91$6.91
$2.28Rp 40.5K
203.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.37$9.37
$1.95Rp 34.7K
380.51%
Potato(1kg)
$4.76$4.76
$1.91Rp 33.8K
149.21%
Onion(1kg)
$4.80$4.80
$2.33Rp 41.4K
106.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.04$5.04
$1.01Rp 17.9K
399.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.99$2.99
$0.55Rp 9,791
443.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.69$12.69
$2.23Rp 39.6K
469.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.22$18.22
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-21.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72$2.72
$2.42Rp 42.9K
12.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91$5.91
$3.00Rp 53.2K
97.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.27Rp 4,823
622.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.6$79.6
$8.98Rp 159.4K
786.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$0.48Rp 8,582
618.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.65$2.65
$0.43Rp 7,693
516.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.65$44.65
$5.64Rp 100.1K
691.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38$1.38
$0.80Rp 14.3K
72.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K$35.0K
$24.9KRp 442.5M
40.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K$27.3K
$31.7KRp 562.6M
-14.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249$249
$81.5Rp 1.4M
205.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.0$69.0
$6.49Rp 115.2K
963.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2$63.2
$18.77Rp 333.0K
236.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.16$37.16
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-34.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.09$20.09
$4.54Rp 80.5K
342.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,161$2,161
$481Rp 8.5M
349.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$26.8K$26.8K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
369.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5$63.5
$45.52Rp 807.5K
39.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.25$47.25
$35.88Rp 636.6K
31.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2$99.2
$80.4Rp 1.4M
23.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132$132
$78.7Rp 1.4M
67.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,602$1,602
$1,115Rp 19.8M
43.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,356$1,356
$698Rp 12.4M
94.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,621$2,621
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-27.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,188$2,188
$1,737Rp 30.8M
25.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841$2,841
$2,784Rp 49.4M
2.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,552$2,552
$2,290Rp 40.6M
11.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waikiki, HI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$168Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.26
13.78
-54.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Waikiki, HI: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,602 in Waikiki, HI and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $141 in Waikiki, HI vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $587 vs $295 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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
Waikiki, HI vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Waikiki, HI or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 122% lower than in Waikiki, HI. 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 Waikiki, HI and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $4,559 in Waikiki, HI and $2,052 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 Waikiki, HI compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,602 in Waikiki, HI versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Waikiki, HI and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $2,161 in Waikiki, HI versus $481 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 Waikiki, HI or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Waikiki, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Waikiki, HI or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,040 in Waikiki, HI, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Waikiki, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Waikiki, HI 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 Waikiki, HI compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Waikiki, HI 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 122% less than in Waikiki, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Waikiki, HI vs other spots: cost of living compared