Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhubei City and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhubei City and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Zhubei City versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,858 in Zhubei City versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,643 in Zhubei City versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Zhubei City costs roughly 23% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zhubei City is 22% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.71 NT$149
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
39.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.93 NT$918
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
-25.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.24 NT$166
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
-5.07%
Cappuccino
$3.05 NT$96.8
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
15.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 NT$30.16
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
-43.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 NT$19.28
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
-20.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.88 NT$59.6
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
-28.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 NT$79.3
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
-41.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.87 NT$90.9
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
85.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 NT$58.2
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
-17.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 NT$141
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
292.92%
Eggs
$2.76 NT$87.6
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
32.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.11 NT$797
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
44.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.66 NT$275
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
123.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.23 NT$832
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
109.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 NT$132
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
14.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 NT$78.0
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
57.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 NT$86.0
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
15.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 NT$104
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
58.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 NT$96.2
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
59.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 NT$65.4
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
-11.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 NT$65.8
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
100.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 NT$42.53
$0.55 Rp 9,854
143.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85 NT$122
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
71.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.18 NT$291
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-61.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 NT$45.08
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
-38.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 NT$63.7
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
-28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 NT$19.36
$0.27 Rp 4,839
125.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 NT$103
$0.48 Rp 8,554
575.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 NT$19.25
$0.45 Rp 7,924
35.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.21 NT$292
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
61.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 NT$32.65
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
35.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K NT$1.1M
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
39.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K NT$807.4K
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
-20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 NT$3,197
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
20.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66 NT$624
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
204.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.98 NT$729
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
21.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.44 NT$998
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
-43.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 NT$323
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
137.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$665 NT$21.1K
$487 Rp 8.6M
36.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K NT$531.6K
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
186.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 NT$1,842
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
27.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.09 NT$986
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
-14.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.0 NT$2,919
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
12.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.7 NT$3,132
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
22.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 NT$15.9K
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-55.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 NT$6,716
$701 Rp 12.5M
-69.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,110 NT$35.2K
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
-68.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$795 NT$25.2K
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
-54.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.6K NT$526.1K
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
486.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,756 NT$309.5K
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
325.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,420 NT$76.8K
$170 Rp 3.0M
1325.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.4
13.78
-82.58%

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

Last update for Zhubei City: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Zhubei City and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhubei City pays 1325% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Zhubei City vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $403 vs $293, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

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
Zhubei City vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zhubei City or Ubud, Bali?
Zhubei City wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhubei City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Zhubei City or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1325% higher in Zhubei City, 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 Zhubei City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Zhubei City versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Zhubei City or in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Zhubei City compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,074 per month in Zhubei City versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Zhubei City or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,074 in Zhubei City versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zhubei City but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zhubei City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Zhubei City or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zhubei City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,074 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zhubei City hard to pass up.
How safe is Zhubei City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Zhubei City 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 Zhubei City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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