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: $1,875 in Waitakere versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,924 in Waitakere versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,973 in Waitakere versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Waitakere is roughly 33% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waitakere 39% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.96 NZ$25.54
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
319.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0 NZ$135
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
143.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.79 NZ$16.72
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
101.44%
Cappuccino
$3.43 NZ$5.85
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
24.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 NZ$4.01
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
78.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 NZ$3.62
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
202.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.34 NZ$12.53
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
152.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.46 NZ$11.03
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
70.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 NZ$3.07
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
5.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 NZ$3.32
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-21.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 NZ$3.24
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
58.33%
Eggs
$6.13 NZ$10.47
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
151.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.08 NZ$13.80
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-43.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 NZ$16.06
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
118.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.65 NZ$21.60
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
3.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 NZ$4.80
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-23.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 NZ$3.86
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
45.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 NZ$5.09
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
6.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 NZ$8.04
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
102.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 NZ$3.39
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
0.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 NZ$3.23
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-18.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 NZ$3.76
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
107.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 NZ$1.89
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
52.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.45 NZ$41.75
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
645.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.79 NZ$18.42
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-52.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 NZ$4.46
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-7.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 NZ$6.38
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
34.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 NZ$3.66
$0.29 Rp 5,217
637.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.1 NZ$108
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
682.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 NZ$4.71
$0.45 Rp 8,047
513.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 NZ$3.05
$0.45 Rp 8,094
297.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.63 NZ$60.9
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
470.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 NZ$2.93
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
102.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K NZ$48.2K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
8.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K NZ$37.8K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-30.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 NZ$244
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
77.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.33 NZ$62.0
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
794.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 NZ$87.3
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
109.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.33 NZ$62.0
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-62.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.84 NZ$20.22
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
83.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83 NZ$18.48
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
168.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$741 NZ$1,265
$304 Rp 5.4M
143.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K NZ$20.7K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
82.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.7 NZ$114
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
23.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.59 NZ$64.2
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-3.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 NZ$165
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
12.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 NZ$201
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
53.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$982 NZ$1,677
$986 Rp 17.7M
-0.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$782 NZ$1,335
$658 Rp 11.8M
18.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,545 NZ$2,637
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-54.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 NZ$2,392
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-32.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,840 NZ$6,557
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
40.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,530 NZ$6,027
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
58.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waitakere
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $982 in Waitakere and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in Waitakere vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $297 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 33% 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 $2,812 in Waitakere and $2,106 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: $982 in Waitakere versus $986 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 $741 in Waitakere versus $304 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,875 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 $1,404 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 33% less than in Waitakere. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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