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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,471 in Waterloo versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,378 in Waterloo versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,285 in Waterloo versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Waterloo is roughly 76% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waterloo 84% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.38 €25.31
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
722.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106 €91.1
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
225.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.82 €11.90
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
184.36%
Cappuccino
$4.68 €4.03
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
70.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 €2.96
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
159.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 €2.85
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
371.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 €5.10
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
103.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 €5.04
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
54.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 €1.33
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-9.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 €2.27
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
6.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.36 €2.03
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
96.67%
Eggs
$4.18 €3.60
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
71.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.71 €14.39
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
16.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.82 €11.05
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
197.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.06 €16.42
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
56.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 €2.58
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-18.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
58.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 €2.38
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-1.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 €2.64
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
31.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 €1.63
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-4.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.83
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-8.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 €1.15
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
26.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.79
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
24.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.35 €10.65
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
276.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.20 €7.93
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-59.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-30.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 €2.52
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
5.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 €2.56
$0.29 Rp 5,217
924.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.0 €48.24
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
594.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.34 €6.33
$0.45 Rp 8,047
1531.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 €2.03
$0.45 Rp 8,094
422.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.37 €30.48
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
466.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 €1.63
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
123.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €29.1K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
30.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K €31.6K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
15.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 €197
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
183.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.86 €18.84
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
438.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 €44.03
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
109.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.15 €28.56
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-66.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 €14.68
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
164.19%
Cinema Ticket
$15.25 €13.14
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
277.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$622 €536
$304 Rp 5.4M
104.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K €11.5K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
101.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.3
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
93.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.00 €42.21
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
26.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 €99.3
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
33.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 €133
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
101.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 €937
$986 Rp 17.7M
10.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 €907
$658 Rp 11.8M
60.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 €1,154
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-60.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 €952
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-46.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,018 €3,462
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
46.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,672 €2,302
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
19.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,524 €2,175
$163 Rp 2.9M
1444.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.74
13.28
-71.84%

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

Last update for Waterloo: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,087 in Waterloo and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waterloo pays 1444% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $106 in Waterloo vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 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
Waterloo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Waterloo or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Waterloo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Waterloo or Ubud, Bali?
Waterloo pays 1444% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Waterloo vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,087 in Waterloo 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 Waterloo and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $622 in Waterloo 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 Waterloo or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Waterloo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Waterloo or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,471 in Waterloo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Waterloo. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Waterloo 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 Waterloo compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Waterloo 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 76% less than in Waterloo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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