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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.47 MYR 13.69
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
1.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.09 MYR 75.4
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
-42.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 MYR 22.77
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
13.39%
Cappuccino
$2.78 MYR 10.97
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
-1.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 MYR 3.11
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
-42.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MYR 1.44
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
-49.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 MYR 14.40
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
22.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 MYR 20.10
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
30.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.40
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
6.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 MYR 3.76
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
-62.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 MYR 5.11
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
6.61%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.40
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
-8.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.32 MYR 60.5
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
5.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.33 MYR 17.11
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
-0.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.65 MYR 38.13
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
-19.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 MYR 11.76
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
-21.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 MYR 5.82
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-8.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 9.98
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
-6.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.47
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
-37.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.91
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
-34.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 MYR 5.02
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
-41.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MYR 4.10
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MYR 2.20
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MYR 16.97
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
35.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.74 MYR 78.0
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
-15.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 MYR 11.26
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 MYR 11.76
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
9.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MYR 2.67
$0.29 Rp 5,022
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.87 MYR 46.88
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
40.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 MYR 4.61
$0.49 Rp 8,344
138.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 MYR 4.09
$0.45 Rp 7,812
128.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.96 MYR 23.54
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
-5.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.82
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
-45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K MYR 138.1K
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
34.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K MYR 126.0K
$31.5K Rp 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)
$44.30 MYR 175
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
-44.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 MYR 37.14
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
129.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.79 MYR 114
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
19.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.96 MYR 146
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-61.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.84 MYR 23.09
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-10.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MYR 19.18
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
17.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 MYR 748
$297 Rp 5.1M
-36.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,905 MYR 27.3K
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
3.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 MYR 245
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
12.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.86 MYR 106
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
-30.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 MYR 284
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
-19.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2 MYR 198
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-36.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 MYR 1,522
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
-62.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 MYR 1,047
$660 Rp 11.3M
-59.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$646 MYR 2,551
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
-81.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 MYR 1,892
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
-76.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,695 MYR 6,696
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
-43.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$882 MYR 3,483
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
-62.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$172 Rp 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.

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