Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bukit Mertajam is 51% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

-46.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.96 MYR 80.9

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-38.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 MYR 15.02

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

-23.87%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 9.03

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-18.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-43.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MYR 12.74

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

7.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 MYR 19.04

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

24.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.77

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.40

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-55.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

-53.33%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-22.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.75 MYR 92.3

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

58.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 MYR 20.42

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

16.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 MYR 42.28

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-14.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 MYR 15.75

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

5.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.13

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

13.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 MYR 14.10

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

24.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.77

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.12

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-10.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MYR 4.04

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-56.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-50.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

32.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.90 MYR 76.7

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 MYR 17.34

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

52.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MYR 10.59

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-6.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.78

$0.29 Rp 5,217

137.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 47.83

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

46.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.87

$0.45 Rp 8,047

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.59

$0.45 Rp 8,094

151.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 MYR 17.25

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

-31.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-45.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

70.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-1.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$26.68 MYR 108

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-66.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 MYR 40.36

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

145.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.90 MYR 117

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

18.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 MYR 151

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-61.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 23.99

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

-8.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 MYR 16.85

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

2.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$119 MYR 483

$304 Rp 5.4M

-60.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

-35.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.98 MYR 48.58

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-77.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.2 MYR 256

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

63.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.23 MYR 94.2

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-73.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 MYR 317

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,584

$986 Rp 17.7M

-60.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.8 MYR 238

$658 Rp 11.8M

-91.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,662

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-80.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MYR 1,936

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-76.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$990 MYR 4,016

$163 Rp 2.9M

505.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

13.28

-70.18%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Bukit Mertajam and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 506% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $297, 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

Bukit Mertajam vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Ubud, Bali differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($661 vs $1,404 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bukit Mertajam pays 506% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $391 in Bukit Mertajam versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bukit Mertajam – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $661 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bukit Mertajam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bukit Mertajam 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.

Expats usually find Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.