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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Butterworth vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Butterworth vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,747 per month in Butterworth vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Butterworth is about 41% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Butterworth sits 37% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 11.75

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

-16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.48 MYR 84.8

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

-34.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MYR 18.65

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

-6.90%

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.18

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

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

$0.68 MYR 2.68

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-49.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 MYR 16.31

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

38.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 17.56

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

15.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.42

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.89

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-61.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.80

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

44.54%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.44

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

-11.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.48 MYR 57.2

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

-1.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 MYR 18.16

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

10.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 37.18

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

-21.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.47

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

-21.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.73

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.60

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.80

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-36.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

-39.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.80

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

-44.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 MYR 3.62

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-13.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.09

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

38.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.95 MYR 74.9

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

-19.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 MYR 10.30

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.23

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

16.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.74

$0.29 Rp 5,010

137.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.96 MYR 47.24

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

46.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.89

$0.45 Rp 7,834

62.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.42 Rp 7,278

26.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 MYR 18.94

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

-22.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

-44.05%

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

$33.3K MYR 131.7K

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

27.01%

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

$27.7K MYR 109.4K

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

-14.71%

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

$39.29 MYR 155

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-49.90%

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

$9.99 MYR 39.46

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

152.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.55 MYR 101

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

4.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 MYR 144

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-62.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 23.92

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

-4.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MYR 19.99

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

25.25%

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

$240 MYR 950

$303 Rp 5.2M

-20.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,261 MYR 24.7K

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

-4.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 MYR 214

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

0.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.44 MYR 116

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

-22.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 MYR 240

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

-30.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MYR 211

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-32.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,549

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-61.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,052

$674 Rp 11.6M

-60.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,542

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-81.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,835

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-77.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,268 MYR 5,010

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

-57.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,031 MYR 4,073

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

-55.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$991 MYR 3,915

$173 Rp 3.0M

472.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

13.28

-68.67%

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

Last update for Butterworth: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Butterworth versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 472% higher in Butterworth, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Butterworth versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $298 – making Butterworth the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $850 in Butterworth, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 69% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,275 per month in Butterworth and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Butterworth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $850 in Butterworth and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Butterworth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Butterworth, where all-in costs run around $850, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Butterworth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $850 in Butterworth to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Butterworth. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.