Cost of Living Comparison Between Kulim and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Kulim and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $974 per month in Kulim vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,486 per month in Kulim vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Kulim vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kulim is about 31% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Kulim sits 27% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 MYR 10.39

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

-23.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.24 MYR 91.8

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

-29.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.78 MYR 14.95

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

-25.59%

Cappuccino

$2.22 MYR 8.77

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

-21.28%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.08

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

-43.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

-49.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.27 MYR 16.86

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

43.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 MYR 21.55

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

39.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.53

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

9.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.27

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

-57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.70

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

19.01%

Eggs

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

-20.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.34 MYR 88.2

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

54.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 MYR 18.93

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

9.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.47 MYR 41.37

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

-13.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 MYR 15.70

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

3.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.70

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

5.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.30 MYR 13.05

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.13

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

15.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 6.96

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

-7.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

-52.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

8.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 1.99

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

-35.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.45

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

31.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.07 MYR 83.2

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

-9.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 16.84

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

49.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 MYR 21.14

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

96.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.29 Rp 5,022

72.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 47.36

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

42.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.74

$0.49 Rp 8,344

144.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.89

$0.45 Rp 7,812

117.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.19

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

-30.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

-45.88%

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

$44.3K MYR 175.0K

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

70.06%

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

$31.3K MYR 123.6K

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

-0.73%

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

$74.7 MYR 295

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

-6.38%

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

$9.62 MYR 37.99

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

135.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.70 MYR 113

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

19.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.19 MYR 147

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-61.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 MYR 23.21

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

-9.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 MYR 22.23

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

36.32%

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

$118 MYR 467

$297 Rp 5.1M

-60.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,334 MYR 17.1K

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

-34.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 MYR 434

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

99.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.82 MYR 106

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

-30.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MYR 293

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

-17.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 MYR 316

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,541

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

-61.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,052

$660 Rp 11.3M

-59.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,537

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

-81.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 MYR 1,896

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

-76.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,919 MYR 7,579

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

-35.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$892 MYR 3,522

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

-62.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

13.28

-70.18%

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

Last update for Kulim: April 21, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $390 in Kulim versus $1,018 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Kulim versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $314 in Kulim vs $299 in Ubud, Bali – so Ubud, Bali wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 45% more than Kulim, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,460 per month in Kulim and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Kulim and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kulim, where all-in costs run around $974, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Kulim 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. Kulim costs $974 versus $1,408 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 Kulim. 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.