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: $1,119 in Zhubei City versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,029 in Zhubei City versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Zhubei City versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Zhubei City costs roughly 21% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zhubei City is 17% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96 NT$156
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
39.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.24 NT$1,079
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
4.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 NT$179
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
14.55%
Cappuccino
$3.70 NT$117
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
36.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 NT$30.98
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
-26.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 NT$19.84
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 NT$71.3
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
-22.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 NT$84.9
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
-32.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.25 NT$102
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
79.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 NT$62.8
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
-21.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.34 NT$137
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
274.14%
Eggs
$3.02 NT$95.0
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
22.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.73 NT$433
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
-6.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.74 NT$275
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
102.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.81 NT$876
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
129.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 NT$138
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
14.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 NT$81.2
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
65.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 NT$87.5
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
-1.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 NT$124
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
69.53%
Potato (1kg)
$4.02 NT$127
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
110.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 NT$79.9
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
15.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 NT$83.4
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
162.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 NT$43.65
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
78.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 NT$131
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
25.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.15 NT$288
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
-61.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 NT$49.58
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
-43.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 NT$85.0
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
-5.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 NT$20.40
$0.27 Rp 4,819
140.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.26 NT$1,205
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
376.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 NT$107
$0.46 Rp 8,181
639.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 NT$19.78
$0.45 Rp 8,068
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.19 NT$321
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
67.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 NT$32.42
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
30.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K NT$1.3M
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
60.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K NT$856.5K
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
-15.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.0 NT$2,930
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
16.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.79 NT$1,064
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
732.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.60 NT$775
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
4.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.24 NT$1,079
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-65.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.27 NT$481
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
130.32%
Cinema Ticket
$11.76 NT$370
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
183.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$690 NT$21.7K
$304 Rp 5.4M
127.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K NT$479.7K
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
130.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.4 NT$2,690
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
53.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.83 NT$1,507
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
24.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 NT$3,147
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
12.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 NT$3,617
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
47.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 NT$13.4K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-57.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 NT$6,690
$675 Rp 12.1M
-68.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 NT$37.2K
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
-65.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$863 NT$27.2K
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
-57.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.8K NT$528.0K
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
489.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,937 NT$313.1K
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
338.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhubei City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,432 NT$76.6K
$165 Rp 3.0M
1372.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.4
13.28
-81.93%

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

Last update for Zhubei City: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $427 in Zhubei City and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhubei City pays 1372% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Zhubei City vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 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
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 27% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Zhubei City pays 1372% 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 Zhubei City vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $427 in Zhubei City 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 Zhubei City and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $690 in Zhubei City 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 Zhubei City or Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Zhubei City or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,119 in Zhubei City versus $1,419 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 $1,119 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 27% 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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