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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $764 per month in Malacca vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,161 per month in Malacca vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,558 per month in Malacca vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Malacca is about 45% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Malacca sits 43% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.87

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

1.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.74 MYR 76.6

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

-42.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.71

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

-8.58%

Cappuccino

$3.00 MYR 12.26

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

6.38%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.41

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-38.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-38.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 MYR 8.56

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-28.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 MYR 13.17

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

-18.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

-19.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.89

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

-61.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.29

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

12.17%

Eggs

$1.83 MYR 7.47

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

-24.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.41 MYR 63.0

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

7.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 20.24

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

18.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.54 MYR 47.18

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

-4.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 MYR 15.01

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

0.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.03

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

-5.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.44

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

-8.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

-9.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.27

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

-22.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

-23.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MYR 5.20

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

20.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-27.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.52

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

34.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.86 MYR 56.6

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

-41.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 MYR 8.23

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

-30.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.86

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

5.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.86

$0.27 Rp 4,821

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.61 MYR 47.47

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

38.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 MYR 5.93

$0.45 Rp 8,180

222.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$0.46 Rp 8,311

117.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 MYR 23.88

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

-3.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

-41.86%

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

$35.7K MYR 145.7K

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

34.10%

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

$39.0K MYR 159.5K

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

19.93%

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

$46.10 MYR 188

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

-41.66%

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

$9.29 MYR 37.99

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

127.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 MYR 125

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

28.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.75 MYR 68.5

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-83.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.61 MYR 47.44

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

82.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.82

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

20.95%

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

$189 MYR 771

$297 Rp 5.4M

-36.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,912 MYR 28.2K

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

4.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 MYR 263

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

20.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.96 MYR 77.5

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

-50.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 MYR 304

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

-16.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.62 MYR 166

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

-46.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MYR 1,350

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

-67.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 MYR 773

$680 Rp 12.3M

-72.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 MYR 2,878

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

-79.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 MYR 1,144

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

-86.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 MYR 8,376

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

-24.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 MYR 4,704

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

-49.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$893 MYR 3,650

$164 Rp 3.0M

445.60%

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 Malacca: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Malacca versus $1,020 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 446% higher in Malacca, 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 $19.00 in Malacca versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $298 – making Malacca 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $764 in Malacca, $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 82% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,146 per month in Malacca and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Malacca and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $764 in Malacca and $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malacca, where all-in costs run around $764, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Malacca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $764 in Malacca to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Malacca. 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.