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: $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 51% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuala Terengganu is 48% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 MYR 9.87

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

-30.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.12 MYR 90.5

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

-31.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.72

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

-5.37%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.96

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

6.18%

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

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-65.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.11

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-64.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 MYR 14.71

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

20.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 MYR 20.45

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

29.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 MYR 6.33

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-10.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.91

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-60.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.35

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

11.97%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

-12.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.02 MYR 61.4

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

3.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 MYR 18.12

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

1.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 MYR 38.80

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-20.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.85

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

-22.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.15

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-7.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.31

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

-8.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.82

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-36.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.82

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

-38.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.20

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-44.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.15

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.61

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

31.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.63 MYR 76.2

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-19.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.59

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.34

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.27 Rp 4,778

174.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.55 MYR 47.23

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

42.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.48 Rp 8,659

139.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$0.42 Rp 7,532

133.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 MYR 24.38

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

-4.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-39.51%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

31.00%

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

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

-2.68%

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

$43.18 MYR 177

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-44.89%

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

$8.96 MYR 36.63

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

120.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.00 MYR 119

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

19.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.41 MYR 153

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-62.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.45

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

-9.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.82

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

21.55%

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

$187 MYR 763

$305 Rp 5.5M

-38.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

2.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 251

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

13.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 MYR 111

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

-28.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 MYR 301

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-15.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 MYR 208

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-33.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 MYR 820

$992 Rp 17.8M

-79.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 MYR 474

$673 Rp 12.1M

-82.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,651

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-80.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,116

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-86.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,050 MYR 8,383

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

-26.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,138 MYR 4,653

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-48.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 MYR 2,003

$167 Rp 3.0M

193.29%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Kuala Terengganu and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Terengganu pays 193% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $297 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 102% in total monthly costs ($696 vs $1,408 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 193% 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: $200 in Kuala Terengganu versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 42% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,408 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 102% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.