Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $989 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,464 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $2,361 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,938 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $3,330 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Petaling Jaya is about 29% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Petaling Jaya sits 27% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.72

$3.30 Rp 59.0K

9.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.49 MYR 100

$38.59 Rp 691.1K

-36.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.81

$5.53 Rp 99.0K

-12.30%

Cappuccino

$3.07 MYR 12.54

$2.62 Rp 47.0K

17.18%

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

$0.93 MYR 3.82

$1.59 Rp 28.5K

-41.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

-44.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MYR 13.20

$2.62 Rp 46.9K

23.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MYR 23.76

$4.25 Rp 76.2K

36.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.64

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

18.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.37

$2.30 Rp 41.2K

-53.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.86

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

37.50%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.53

$2.07 Rp 37.0K

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 MYR 39.71

$17.61 Rp 315.4K

-44.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.15 MYR 12.89

$3.97 Rp 71.1K

-20.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 39.74

$11.99 Rp 214.7K

-18.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 MYR 11.46

$3.53 Rp 63.2K

-20.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 MYR 7.77

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 MYR 10.78

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

13.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.44

$1.94 Rp 34.8K

-6.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MYR 8.38

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

14.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.28

$2.26 Rp 40.4K

-10.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 MYR 5.84

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

45.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.30

$0.52 Rp 9,291

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 MYR 18.45

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

95.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.52 MYR 79.8

$23.35 Rp 418.1K

-16.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 MYR 11.45

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

23.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

47.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$0.27 Rp 4,857

344.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.10 MYR 49.46

$9.16 Rp 164.0K

32.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 MYR 5.09

$0.44 Rp 7,956

184.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.43 Rp 7,787

-16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 MYR 36.71

$5.51 Rp 98.7K

62.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-2.53%

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

$42.1K MYR 172.0K

$23.9K Rp 427.2M

76.40%

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

$32.7K MYR 133.5K

$30.6K Rp 548.8M

6.59%

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

$39.20 MYR 160

$81.5 Rp 1.5M

-51.88%

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

$8.37 MYR 34.20

$6.31 Rp 113.0K

32.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.77 MYR 109

$18.30 Rp 327.7K

46.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.62 MYR 199

$54.0 Rp 966.6K

-9.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.50

$17.89 Rp 320.4K

-82.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.83

$4.24 Rp 75.9K

14.39%

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

$281 MYR 1,148

$482 Rp 8.6M

-41.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 43.0K

$5,756 Rp 103.1M

82.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 MYR 208

$44.99 Rp 805.7K

13.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 MYR 123

$34.88 Rp 624.5K

-13.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 MYR 315

$78.2 Rp 1.4M

-1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.6 MYR 354

$79.4 Rp 1.4M

9.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 MYR 1,995

$1,148 Rp 20.6M

-57.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,562

$688 Rp 12.3M

-44.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 MYR 3,289

$3,619 Rp 64.8M

-77.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 MYR 2,240

$1,723 Rp 30.8M

-68.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,180 MYR 13.0K

$2,783 Rp 49.8M

14.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 858

$2,238 Rp 40.1M

-90.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,715 MYR 7,009

$169 Rp 3.0M

914.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

13.78

-67.27%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: August 4, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,148 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 915% higher in Petaling Jaya, 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 $24.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $290 – making Petaling Jaya 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 41% more than Petaling Jaya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,484 per month in Petaling Jaya and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 32% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Petaling Jaya and $482 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $989, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petaling Jaya costs $989 versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Petaling Jaya. 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.