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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $473 per month in Malang vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $725 per month in Malang vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $976 per month in Malang vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Malang is about 66% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malang sits 66% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$3.37 Rp 59.8K

-67.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.13 Rp 197.3K

$38.59 Rp 683.8K

-71.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$5.52 Rp 97.8K

-50.00%

Cappuccino

$1.31 Rp 23.2K

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

-50.38%

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

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-65.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 Rp 3,880

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

$2.63 Rp 46.7K

-15.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 Rp 76.7K

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

1.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 Rp 16.6K

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

-39.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

-48.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

-25.66%

Eggs

$1.19 Rp 21.2K

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

-43.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 Rp 106.6K

$17.39 Rp 308.2K

-65.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.04 Rp 53.8K

$3.87 Rp 68.5K

-21.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.01 Rp 124.2K

$12.55 Rp 222.4K

-44.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 Rp 35.8K

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

-44.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-17.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.8K

$2.35 Rp 41.7K

-31.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-30.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.5K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-30.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 34.3K

$2.34 Rp 41.4K

-17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 Rp 8,502

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

-53.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,720

$0.55 Rp 9,830

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 Rp 49.3K

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

23.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.51 Rp 221.7K

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

-47.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 Rp 31.2K

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

-23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 Rp 53.8K

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 Rp 11.4K

$0.27 Rp 4,827

137.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.59 Rp 99.1K

$8.66 Rp 153.5K

-35.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,321

$0.48 Rp 8,533

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 Rp 7,335

$0.45 Rp 7,904

-8.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 Rp 102.6K

$5.72 Rp 101.4K

1.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 Rp 11.9K

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

-11.84%

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

$25.3K Rp 447.6M

$24.5K Rp 433.9M

3.16%

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

$27.6K Rp 488.7M

$32.1K Rp 569.3M

-14.16%

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

$31.57 Rp 559.4K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-62.21%

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

$2.44 Rp 43.2K

$6.46 Rp 114.4K

-62.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.81 Rp 351.1K

$18.99 Rp 336.6K

4.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.75 Rp 261.3K

$56.0 Rp 992.0K

-73.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.68 Rp 83.0K

$18.62 Rp 329.9K

-74.87%

Cinema Ticket

$1.96 Rp 34.7K

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

-54.21%

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

$31.63 Rp 560.5K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-93.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,547 Rp 169.2M

$5,856 Rp 103.8M

63.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 Rp 1.0M

$45.56 Rp 807.4K

24.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.28 Rp 394.9K

$36.38 Rp 644.7K

-38.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.8 Rp 935.4K

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-35.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.82 Rp 652.6K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-54.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$142 Rp 2.5M

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-87.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.8 Rp 1.6M

$701 Rp 12.4M

-86.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 Rp 3.6M

$3,537 Rp 62.7M

-94.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 Rp 2.7M

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-91.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$206 Rp 3.7M

$170 Rp 3.0M

21.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-70.97%

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

Last update for Malang: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $142 in Malang versus $1,117 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 21% higher in Malang, 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 $11.00 in Malang versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $293 – making Malang 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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 195%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $710 per month in Malang and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 55% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $31.63 per month in Malang and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Malang. 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.