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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Penang versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Penang costs roughly 38% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Penang is 35% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

-14.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-33.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

-10.91%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

6.91%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

51.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

17.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

5.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-59.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

69.17%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-12.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

20.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

23.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-22.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-5.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-9.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-40.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-49.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-10.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-32.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

32.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-13.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-6.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

22.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.29 Rp 5,217

55.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

115.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$0.45 Rp 8,047

53.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.45 Rp 8,094

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-44.71%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

26.73%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-13.87%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-52.20%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

147.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

28.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-66.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

-15.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

21.53%

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

$238 MYR 963

$304 Rp 5.4M

-21.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

-6.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

0.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-26.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-29.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-30.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$986 Rp 17.7M

-60.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$658 Rp 11.8M

-65.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-81.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-74.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

-17.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

-46.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$163 Rp 2.9M

482.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

13.28

-68.67%

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

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 482% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $297 per month, with Penang 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

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

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Penang pays 482% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Penang versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Penang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Penang versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $869 in Penang versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Penang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang 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.

Expats usually find Penang 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.