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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,945 in Wollongong versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,779 in Wollongong versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,613 in Wollongong versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Wollongong is roughly 37% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wollongong 45% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.77 A$20.58
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
314.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.5 A$122
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
167.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.98 A$13.91
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
101.62%
Cappuccino
$3.41 A$4.75
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
25.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 A$3.72
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
99.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 A$3.16
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
224.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 A$8.19
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
101.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43 A$10.35
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
87.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 A$1.64
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-34.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 A$3.19
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-9.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 A$2.19
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
35.34%
Eggs
$3.50 A$4.88
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
42.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.73 A$13.55
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-33.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.57 A$11.94
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
98.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.43 A$20.10
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
18.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 A$3.83
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-28.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 A$3.50
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
60.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.20
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-18.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 A$5.97
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
83.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 A$2.85
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
6.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 A$2.55
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-16.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 A$3.32
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
136.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 A$1.48
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
35.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.30 A$43.62
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
842.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.61 A$20.35
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 A$4.19
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
7.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 A$4.86
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
22.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 A$3.42
$0.27 Rp 4,800
807.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.30 A$65.9
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
489.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.05 A$5.64
$0.46 Rp 8,150
780.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 A$2.43
$0.45 Rp 8,037
286.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.88 A$57.0
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
570.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.60
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
45.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$39.8K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
9.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K A$32.1K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-28.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 A$254
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
127.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.20 A$39.30
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
594.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.07 A$67.0
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
104.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.3 A$105
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-23.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67 A$21.84
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
136.35%
Cinema Ticket
$11.52 A$16.06
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
177.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,580 A$2,201
$304 Rp 5.4M
419.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K A$18.6K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
101.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 A$80.6
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
4.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 A$79.7
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
49.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 A$137
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$153
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
41.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$975 A$1,359
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-3.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$793 A$1,105
$675 Rp 12.1M
17.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,912 A$2,665
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-44.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 A$1,465
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-48.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,606 A$6,418
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
62.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,764 A$5,246
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
66.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wollongong
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,972 A$5,535
$165 Rp 3.0M
2303.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.29
13.28
-52.64%

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

Last update for Wollongong: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $975 in Wollongong and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wollongong pays 2304% 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: $87.0 in Wollongong vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $302 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
Wollongong vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wollongong or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Wollongong. 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 Wollongong or Ubud, Bali?
Wollongong pays 2304% 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 Wollongong vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $975 in Wollongong versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Wollongong and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $1,580 in Wollongong 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 Wollongong or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Wollongong. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Wollongong or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,945 in Wollongong, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Wollongong. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Wollongong or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Wollongong compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Wollongong 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 37% less than in Wollongong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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