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: $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 50% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuala Terengganu is 47% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.08

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-35.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 MYR 87.2

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-32.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.30

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

-11.92%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 11.79

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

9.59%

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

$0.44 MYR 1.75

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-67.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.07

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-61.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.16

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.27

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 MYR 6.12

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-14.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-61.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.95

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

7.76%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 59.8

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

2.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 MYR 17.46

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

1.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 38.38

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-20.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 11.83

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-22.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.76

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-7.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.20

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-9.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.47

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-40.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-35.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-39.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.16

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

3.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.29

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

31.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.78 MYR 74.5

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-20.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.19

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.93

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

5.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.95

$0.27 Rp 4,800

174.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.50

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

49.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$0.46 Rp 8,150

160.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$0.45 Rp 8,037

120.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 MYR 23.99

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-0.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-36.71%

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

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

35.34%

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

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-0.32%

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

$43.46 MYR 172

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-45.63%

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

$9.35 MYR 37.07

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

130.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MYR 118

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

26.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 MYR 144

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-63.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.96

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

-12.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 19.74

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

20.00%

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

$184 MYR 730

$304 Rp 5.4M

-39.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

6.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 242

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

9.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.86 MYR 106

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-29.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MYR 294

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-16.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 MYR 202

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-34.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 MYR 787

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-80.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 MYR 476

$675 Rp 12.1M

-82.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,571

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-81.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,084

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-86.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 MYR 7,823

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-30.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 MYR 3,879

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-56.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 MYR 2,001

$165 Rp 3.0M

205.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

13.28

-69.35%

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

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Kuala Terengganu and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Terengganu pays 205% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $302 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 101% in total monthly costs ($706 vs $1,419 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kuala Terengganu pays 205% 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: $199 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 49% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,419 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 101% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.