🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Nilai versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Nilai versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,768 in Nilai versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Nilai costs roughly 38% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Nilai is 35% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47MYR 13.69
$3.42Rp 58.7K
1.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.09MYR 75.4
$32.96Rp 566.5K
-42.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.76MYR 22.77
$5.08Rp 87.3K
13.39%
Cappuccino
$2.78MYR 10.97
$2.82Rp 48.5K
-1.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79MYR 3.11
$1.37Rp 23.5K
-42.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MYR 1.44
$0.71Rp 12.2K
-49.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65MYR 14.40
$2.97Rp 51.0K
22.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09MYR 20.10
$3.91Rp 67.2K
30.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87MYR 7.40
$1.75Rp 30.0K
6.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95MYR 3.76
$2.52Rp 43.2K
-62.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29MYR 5.11
$1.21Rp 20.8K
6.61%
Eggs
$2.13MYR 8.40
$2.33Rp 40.1K
-8.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.32MYR 60.5
$14.50Rp 249.2K
5.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.33MYR 17.11
$4.36Rp 74.9K
-0.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.65MYR 38.13
$12.05Rp 207.0K
-19.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98MYR 11.76
$3.82Rp 65.6K
-21.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MYR 5.82
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53MYR 9.98
$2.70Rp 46.5K
-6.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39MYR 5.47
$2.23Rp 38.3K
-37.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24MYR 4.91
$1.90Rp 32.6K
-34.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27MYR 5.02
$2.18Rp 37.5K
-41.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MYR 4.10
$1.03Rp 17.7K
0.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MYR 2.20
$0.77Rp 13.3K
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30MYR 16.97
$3.18Rp 54.7K
35.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.74MYR 78.0
$23.23Rp 399.2K
-15.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85MYR 11.26
$2.85Rp 48.9K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98MYR 11.76
$2.72Rp 46.7K
9.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MYR 2.67
$0.29Rp 5,022
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.87MYR 46.88
$8.43Rp 144.8K
40.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17MYR 4.61
$0.49Rp 8,344
138.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03MYR 4.09
$0.45Rp 7,812
128.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.96MYR 23.54
$6.28Rp 107.8K
-5.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.82
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KMYR 138.1K
$26.1KRp 447.8M
34.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KMYR 126.0K
$31.5KRp 541.8M
1.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.30MYR 175
$79.8Rp 1.4M
-44.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40MYR 37.14
$4.09Rp 70.3K
129.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.79MYR 114
$24.06Rp 413.6K
19.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.96MYR 146
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-61.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.84MYR 23.09
$6.53Rp 112.2K
-10.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MYR 19.18
$4.13Rp 71.1K
17.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189MYR 748
$297Rp 5.1M
-36.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,905MYR 27.3K
$6,661Rp 114.5M
3.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9MYR 245
$55.0Rp 944.5K
12.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.86MYR 106
$38.75Rp 666.0K
-30.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.8MYR 284
$89.6Rp 1.5M
-19.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2MYR 198
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-36.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385MYR 1,522
$1,018Rp 17.5M
-62.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265MYR 1,047
$660Rp 11.3M
-59.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646MYR 2,551
$3,435Rp 59.0M
-81.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479MYR 1,892
$2,053Rp 35.3M
-76.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,695MYR 6,696
$2,981Rp 51.2M
-43.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$882MYR 3,483
$2,368Rp 40.7M
-62.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$172Rp 3.0M
-
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 Nilai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $385 in Nilai and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19 in Nilai vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $299 per month, with Nilai 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
Nilai vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nilai or Ubud, Bali?
Nilai wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nilai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nilai vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,300 in Nilai and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nilai vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $385 in Nilai versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Nilai compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Nilai versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nilai vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Nilai runs roughly 41% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nilai or Ubud, Bali?
At $867 in Nilai versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nilai but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Nilai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nilai or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nilai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $867 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nilai hard to pass up.
How safe is Nilai compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Nilai 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nilai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.