Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $654 per month in Kota Bharu vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,135 per month in Kota Bharu vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,616 per month in Kota Bharu vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kota Bharu is about 53% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kota Bharu sits 51% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 MYR 7.03

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

-51.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.23 MYR 86.1

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.83

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

-14.61%

Cappuccino

$2.43 MYR 9.84

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-11.64%

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

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 1.01

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

49.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 MYR 17.43

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

13.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 MYR 6.30

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-9.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-67.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 MYR 3.16

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

-35.00%

Eggs

$1.55 MYR 6.27

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-36.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 MYR 62.0

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

6.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.75

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

-32.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 MYR 24.99

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-49.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.86

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-60.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.79

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.67

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-49.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-63.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 MYR 3.32

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-58.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.67

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-50.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.68

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-14.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.76

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-41.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 MYR 12.02

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

-9.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.42 MYR 78.8

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-14.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 MYR 5.79

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-49.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 MYR 14.35

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

27.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.29 Rp 5,217

137.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 46.99

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

43.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.75

$0.45 Rp 8,047

51.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.15

$0.45 Rp 8,094

17.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 MYR 14.65

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

-42.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-41.18%

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

$30.7K MYR 124.3K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

18.02%

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

$27.6K MYR 112.0K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-12.74%

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

$38.47 MYR 156

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-52.36%

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

$8.49 MYR 34.42

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

109.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 MYR 106

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

6.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.20 MYR 151

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-61.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.48

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

-10.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 MYR 16.73

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

2.23%

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

$116 MYR 470

$304 Rp 5.4M

-61.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,186 MYR 25.1K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

-6.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 MYR 217

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-1.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.18 MYR 77.8

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-50.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.9 MYR 247

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-29.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MYR 216

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-30.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 MYR 1,032

$986 Rp 17.7M

-74.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 MYR 567

$658 Rp 11.8M

-78.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$846 MYR 3,430

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-74.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MYR 1,921

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-77.07%

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)

$303 MYR 1,228

$163 Rp 2.9M

85.25%

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 Kota Bharu: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Kota Bharu versus $986 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 85% higher in Kota Bharu, 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 Kota Bharu versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $297 – making Kota Bharu 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 115% more than Kota Bharu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $981 per month in Kota Bharu and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 44% less in Kota Bharu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Kota Bharu and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Bharu, where all-in costs run around $654, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Kota Bharu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kota Bharu costs $654 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kota Bharu. 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.