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 $909 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,765 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Petaling Jaya is about 35% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Petaling Jaya sits 32% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 MYR 14.70

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.88 MYR 76.6

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-41.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.02

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

-3.50%

Cappuccino

$2.71 MYR 10.99

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-1.45%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.74

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-47.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 14.24

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

20.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 MYR 20.10

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

30.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 MYR 7.78

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

12.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.85

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-61.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.07

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

45.00%

Eggs

$2.16 MYR 8.75

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-11.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 MYR 43.82

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-24.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 MYR 14.45

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

-17.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 MYR 32.21

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-34.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.18

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.02

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

11.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.04

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-11.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.89

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-48.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-41.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.58

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-40.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.83

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-11.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-13.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.74

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

25.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.45 MYR 78.9

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-14.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MYR 11.09

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-2.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 MYR 15.30

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

35.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MYR 3.08

$0.29 Rp 5,217

162.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.97 MYR 48.52

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

48.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$0.45 Rp 8,047

120.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.45 Rp 8,094

-28.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.35 MYR 37.92

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

49.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-44.71%

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

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

20.45%

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

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-11.04%

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

$40.93 MYR 166

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-49.31%

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

$8.87 MYR 35.97

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

118.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.16 MYR 93.9

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

-5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.87 MYR 149

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-62.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.22 MYR 29.28

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

11.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 MYR 20.30

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

24.01%

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

$209 MYR 849

$304 Rp 5.4M

-31.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

22.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.47 MYR 197

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-10.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.99 MYR 138

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-12.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.9 MYR 219

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-37.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.57 MYR 197

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-36.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,911

$986 Rp 17.7M

-52.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 MYR 1,407

$658 Rp 11.8M

-47.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 MYR 3,311

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-75.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 MYR 2,200

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-73.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

15.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 851

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

-90.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,742 MYR 7,066

$163 Rp 2.9M

966.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

13.28

-66.19%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Petaling Jaya versus $986 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 966% 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $297 – 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 54% 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 $1,364 per month in Petaling Jaya and $2,106 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 49% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $209 per month in Petaling Jaya and $304 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 $909, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $909 versus $1,404 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.