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: $2,392 in Waterloo versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,383 in Waterloo versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,374 in Waterloo versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Waterloo is roughly 73% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waterloo 75% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 €19.63
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
593.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106 €90.3
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
170.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.43 €12.35
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
156.76%
Cappuccino
$4.37 €3.74
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
65.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 €3.01
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
122.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 €2.69
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
343.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.63 €4.82
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
106.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 €5.09
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
37.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 €1.22
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 €2.52
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
27.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 €1.98
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
125.24%
Eggs
$4.16 €3.56
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
96.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.85 €14.41
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
-2.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 €11.11
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
222.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.30 €17.36
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
63.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 €2.38
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
-24.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 €2.17
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
56.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 €2.51
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
29.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 €2.57
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
50.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 €1.87
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
19.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.75
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
-8.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
29.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.51 €11.56
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
508.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.33 €7.98
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
-59.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.70
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
-16.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.17
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
-11.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.80 €2.40
$0.25 Rp 4,416
1020.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.0 €42.81
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
597.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 €2.54
$0.46 Rp 8,163
545.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 €1.82
$0.46 Rp 8,235
360.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.89 €34.98
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
617.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.79
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
175.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K €31.9K
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
51.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
13.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 €200
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
184.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.81 €18.66
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
244.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0 €44.45
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
180.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.37 €27.69
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
-42.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.71 €19.43
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
23.36%
Cinema Ticket
$15.97 €13.66
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
274.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$820 €701
$489 Rp 8.7M
67.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.0K €23.1K
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
365.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €90.4
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
129.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.20 €37.81
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
23.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 €93.5
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
37.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 €128
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
84.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 €923
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
-5.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 €891
$692 Rp 12.3M
50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 €1,190
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
-60.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,032 €883
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
-39.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,282 €3,663
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
53.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,425 €2,930
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
51.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waterloo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,501 €2,139
$169 Rp 3.0M
1377.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.66
13.78
-73.44%

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

Last update for Waterloo: August 18, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,079 in Waterloo and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waterloo pays 1377% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $293 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 73% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1377% higher in Waterloo, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,079 in Waterloo versus $1,144 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $820 in Waterloo versus $489 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,392 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 $1,379 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 73% less than in Waterloo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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