Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $976 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,436 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,897 in Kuala Terengganu versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 30% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuala Terengganu is 29% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.50 MYR 10.12

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

-25.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 MYR 94.4

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

-39.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 MYR 20.27

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

-9.24%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.26

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

5.68%

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

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

-72.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 MYR 1.13

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.11

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

60.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 MYR 17.08

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

-1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 MYR 7.04

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.25

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

-52.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.26

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

15.04%

Eggs

$1.95 MYR 7.87

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

-6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 MYR 57.6

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-18.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 MYR 18.52

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

18.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.22 MYR 41.32

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

-18.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MYR 13.38

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

-8.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.81

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.25

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

18.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.10

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

-14.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.80

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-37.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 MYR 4.40

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

-53.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MYR 4.86

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

16.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.55 Rp 9,854

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.61

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

93.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.75 MYR 83.9

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-12.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 MYR 10.18

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 MYR 16.29

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

43.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 MYR 3.35

$0.27 Rp 4,839

207.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.21 MYR 45.31

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

29.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.07

$0.48 Rp 8,554

162.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MYR 2.26

$0.45 Rp 7,924

24.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 MYR 28.55

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

23.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 MYR 2.66

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

-13.16%

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

$41.9K MYR 169.4K

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

71.10%

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

$35.7K MYR 144.2K

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

11.04%

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

$50.6 MYR 205

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-39.40%

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

$9.17 MYR 37.07

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

41.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.58 MYR 107

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

39.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.19 MYR 179

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

-21.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.54 MYR 26.43

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

-64.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 MYR 19.96

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

15.42%

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

$202 MYR 815

$487 Rp 8.6M

-58.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,936 MYR 20.0K

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

-15.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 MYR 247

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

34.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.93 MYR 157

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

7.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 MYR 379

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

14.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.6 MYR 326

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 MYR 1,764

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-60.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 MYR 1,184

$701 Rp 12.5M

-58.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 MYR 3,083

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-78.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,906

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-73.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 MYR 9,182

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

-19.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,153 MYR 4,663

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

-49.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 MYR 2,028

$170 Rp 3.0M

195.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

13.78

-69.52%

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

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Kuala Terengganu and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Terengganu pays 195% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $293 per month, with Kuala Terengganu 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

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

Kuala Terengganu and Ubud, Bali differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($976 vs $1,396 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 195% higher in Kuala Terengganu, 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: $436 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $976 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 29% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $976 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu 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, Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.