Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nilai and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Nilai: $963 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nilai, Malaysia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Nilai
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$963
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nilai and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nilai and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $963 in Nilai versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Nilai $963
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,477 in Nilai versus $2,255 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Nilai $1,477
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Nilai versus $3,180 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Nilai $1,991
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Living in Nilai costs roughly 28% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nilai 29% lower, Ubud, Bali 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61 MYR 14.59
$3.38 Rp 60.9K
6.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.39 MYR 78.4
$34.65 Rp 625.4K
-44.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.13 MYR 24.78
$5.57 Rp 100.6K
10.05%
Cappuccino
$3.47 MYR 14.04
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
32.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 MYR 3.22
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
-48.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 MYR 1.43
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
-45.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.02 MYR 16.28
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
50.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 MYR 18.12
$4.26 Rp 76.9K
5.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MYR 7.15
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
21.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 MYR 5.55
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
-40.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MYR 5.98
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
33.33%
Eggs
$2.24 MYR 9.05
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
6.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.39 MYR 54.1
$15.94 Rp 287.7K
-16.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.46 MYR 18.04
$3.88 Rp 70.1K
14.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.63 MYR 38.94
$11.40 Rp 205.8K
-15.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 MYR 13.82
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
-3.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MYR 6.72
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
7.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 MYR 10.00
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
10.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 MYR 6.14
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
-22.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 5.01
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 MYR 5.54
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
-43.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 MYR 4.56
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
10.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MYR 2.09
$0.52 Rp 9,427
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 MYR 18.17
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
104.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.51 MYR 78.9
$21.79 Rp 393.2K
-10.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 MYR 13.13
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
39.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 MYR 19.31
$2.97 Rp 53.6K
60.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 MYR 3.36
$0.25 Rp 4,519
232.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.60 MYR 55.0
$8.17 Rp 147.5K
66.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 MYR 4.72
$0.44 Rp 7,901
165.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 MYR 2.21
$0.47 Rp 8,446
17.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.05 MYR 24.48
$5.60 Rp 101.1K
8.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 MYR 3.73
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
10.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.1K MYR 202.5K
$24.4K Rp 441.3M
104.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K MYR 123.8K
$31.7K Rp 572.1M
-3.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.2 MYR 203
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
-35.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.96 MYR 40.26
$6.14 Rp 110.9K
62.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.89 MYR 117
$18.92 Rp 341.4K
52.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.43 MYR 163
$51.0 Rp 920.4K
-20.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.47 MYR 26.15
$18.25 Rp 329.4K
-64.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.83 MYR 19.55
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
10.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$246 MYR 996
$492 Rp 8.9M
-49.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K MYR 50.1K
$12.2K Rp 220.6M
1.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 MYR 236
$45.16 Rp 815.1K
29.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.07 MYR 130
$34.89 Rp 629.7K
-8.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 MYR 364
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
15.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4 MYR 337
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
7.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 MYR 1,647
$1,078 Rp 19.4M
-62.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 MYR 1,205
$665 Rp 12.0M
-55.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 MYR 3,033
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
-78.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 MYR 2,269
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
-66.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,847 MYR 7,470
$2,340 Rp 42.2M
-21.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,205 MYR 4,872
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
-46.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nilai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 MYR 5,761
$166 Rp 3.0M
756.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.17
13.78
-69.74%

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

Last update for Nilai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nilai
$298
Ubud, Bali
$665 123% $367
Groceries & Markets
Nilai
$264
Ubud, Bali
$279 5.8% $15
Eating Out
Nilai
$123
Ubud, Bali
$106 13.7% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Nilai
$119
Ubud, Bali
$106 10.5% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nilai
$89
Ubud, Bali
$103 15.2% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Nilai
$50
Ubud, Bali
$60 19.3% $9.7
Getting Around
Nilai
$21
Ubud, Bali
$12 42.6% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Nilai and $1,078 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nilai pays about 8.6 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19 in Nilai vs $35 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $279 per month, with Nilai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Nilai
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
17:08 5:08 PM
17:08 5:08 PM
Same time as Nilai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,612
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 4.04 MYR (1 MYR = 0.247 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nilai Ubud, Bali 1,950 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nilai
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 28% 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.
Are salaries higher in Nilai or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Nilai is about 8.6 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nilai compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Nilai versus $1,078 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 $963 per month in Nilai versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali – Nilai is about 28% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Nilai compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 40% less than in Nilai. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Nilai or in Ubud, Bali?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Nilai is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Nilai or Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Nilai compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Nilai and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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