Cost of Living Comparison Between Waitakere and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Waitakere and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,905 in Waitakere versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,943 in Waitakere versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,980 in Waitakere versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Waitakere is roughly 32% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waitakere 42% above, Ubud, Bali 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.93 NZ$25.38
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
318.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4 NZ$133
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
140.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 NZ$16.02
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
85.80%
Cappuccino
$3.37 NZ$5.73
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
19.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 NZ$3.95
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
73.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 NZ$3.60
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
207.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.02 NZ$11.94
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
134.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23 NZ$10.59
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
61.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 NZ$3.18
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
7.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.01 NZ$3.41
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-20.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 NZ$3.13
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
54.62%
Eggs
$6.17 NZ$10.49
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
153.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 NZ$14.14
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-43.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.77 NZ$16.61
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
133.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 NZ$22.18
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
9.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.80 NZ$4.76
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-24.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 NZ$3.70
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
35.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 NZ$5.34
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
16.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 NZ$7.69
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
93.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 NZ$3.50
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
7.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 NZ$3.22
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-13.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 NZ$3.76
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
108.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 NZ$1.87
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.39 NZ$41.47
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
679.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 NZ$14.77
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-63.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 NZ$4.26
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-8.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 NZ$6.32
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 NZ$3.54
$0.29 Rp 5,010
617.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.1 NZ$107
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
671.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 NZ$4.71
$0.45 Rp 7,834
515.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 NZ$3.13
$0.42 Rp 7,278
338.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.13 NZ$59.7
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
470.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.80
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
96.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K NZ$48.9K
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
9.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K NZ$38.0K
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-31.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 NZ$239
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
79.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.39 NZ$60.2
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
795.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8 NZ$88.1
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
112.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.52 NZ$63.8
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-61.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.00 NZ$20.40
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
88.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.70 NZ$18.20
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
164.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$732 NZ$1,244
$303 Rp 5.2M
141.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K NZ$20.9K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
88.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 NZ$116
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
26.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.24 NZ$63.3
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-1.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 NZ$161
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
9.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 NZ$199
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
48.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 NZ$1,641
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-4.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$799 NZ$1,358
$674 Rp 11.6M
18.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 NZ$2,686
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-53.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 NZ$2,391
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-32.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,221 NZ$8,876
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
74.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,391 NZ$5,765
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
44.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
13.28
-49.25%

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

Last update for Waitakere: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $965 in Waitakere and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $78.0 in Waitakere vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $298 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
Waitakere vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Waitakere or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Waitakere. 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 Waitakere vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $2,857 in Waitakere and $2,158 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 Waitakere vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $965 in Waitakere versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Waitakere and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $732 in Waitakere versus $303 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 Waitakere or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Waitakere. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Waitakere or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,905 in Waitakere, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Waitakere. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Waitakere or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,438 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Waitakere compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Waitakere 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 32% less than in Waitakere. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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