Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Kedah: $877 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kedah, Malaysia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Kedah
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$877
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kedah and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kedah and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $877 in Kedah versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Kedah $877
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Kedah versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Kedah $1,399
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,920 in Kedah versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Kedah $1,920
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Kedah costs roughly 35% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72 MYR 15.13
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
12.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.32 MYR 50.2
$35.64 Rp 646.7K
-65.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 MYR 18.57
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
-17.54%
Cappuccino
$2.91 MYR 11.86
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
6.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MYR 3.14
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-54.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.59
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-48.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.24 MYR 17.24
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 MYR 17.73
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
-0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MYR 7.65
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
26.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 MYR 4.31
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
-53.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MYR 6.98
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
44.54%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.90
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
7.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.55 MYR 55.1
$17.70 Rp 321.2K
-23.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.34 MYR 17.68
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
9.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.84 MYR 35.99
$12.19 Rp 221.2K
-27.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 MYR 11.97
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
-19.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 MYR 6.65
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
7.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 MYR 11.19
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
23.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.92
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-26.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.48
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
-40.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 MYR 4.43
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
-54.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 MYR 4.61
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
14.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MYR 2.33
$0.51 Rp 9,316
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.62 MYR 18.81
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
108.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.76 MYR 76.4
$22.24 Rp 403.6K
-15.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 MYR 12.14
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
31.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 MYR 21.70
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
79.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 MYR 3.10
$0.25 Rp 4,555
204.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.85 MYR 52.3
$7.82 Rp 142.0K
64.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 MYR 6.75
$0.44 Rp 7,975
277.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 MYR 1.54
$0.43 Rp 7,804
-11.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.29 MYR 29.67
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
34.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 MYR 2.46
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
-26.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.6K MYR 185.8K
$23.8K Rp 432.6M
91.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K MYR 145.9K
$31.7K Rp 576.1M
12.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.47 MYR 148
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-53.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 MYR 39.31
$6.45 Rp 117.0K
49.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.48 MYR 120
$18.58 Rp 337.1K
58.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.63 MYR 141
$49.48 Rp 897.9K
-30.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.85 MYR 27.89
$17.65 Rp 320.2K
-61.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.79 MYR 19.51
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
12.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$388 MYR 1,578
$491 Rp 8.9M
-20.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MYR 43.4K
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
87.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 MYR 240
$44.64 Rp 810.0K
31.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.76 MYR 141
$34.95 Rp 634.2K
-0.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.6 MYR 332
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
2.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.7 MYR 288
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
-11.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 MYR 1,456
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-68.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 MYR 1,050
$671 Rp 12.2M
-61.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$712 MYR 2,899
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
-80.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 MYR 2,469
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,930 MYR 7,857
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-29.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,258 MYR 5,119
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
-44.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kedah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,339 MYR 5,451
$164 Rp 3.0M
717.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
13.78
-70.68%

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

Last update for Kedah: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kedah
$258
Ubud, Bali
$672 160% $414
Groceries & Markets
Kedah
$257
Ubud, Bali
$288 12.4% $32
Eating Out
Kedah
$113
Ubud, Bali
$108 4.6% $5.2
Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
$111
Ubud, Bali
$108 2.8% $3.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
$76
Ubud, Bali
$104 37.7% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
$44
Ubud, Bali
$58 31.2% $14
Getting Around
Kedah
$19
Ubud, Bali
$11 41.3% $8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Kedah and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays about 8.2 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12 in Kedah vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $288 per month, with Kedah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Kedah
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
00:50 12:50 AM
00:50 12:50 AM
Same time as Kedah
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
417,800
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.07 MYR (1 MYR = 0.246 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,249 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kedah Ubud, Bali 2,320 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kedah
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kedah vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kedah and in Ubud, Bali?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $877 in Kedah and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, so Kedah is about 35% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kedah or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Kedah is about 8.2 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kedah and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Kedah versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kedah and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $388 in Kedah versus $491 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $877 in Kedah versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Kedah but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kedah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kedah and Ubud, Bali?
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.
Is Kedah or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kedah and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Kedah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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