🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $814 in Putrajaya versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,208 in Putrajaya versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,602 in Putrajaya versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Putrajaya costs roughly 42% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Putrajaya is 39% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47MYR 14.08
$3.57Rp 64.0K
-2.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.15MYR 77.7
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-41.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.66MYR 18.89
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-4.12%
Cappuccino
$2.86MYR 11.61
$2.75Rp 49.2K
4.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74MYR 3.01
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-43.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.50
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-47.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56MYR 14.42
$2.91Rp 52.2K
22.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54MYR 18.41
$3.79Rp 68.0K
19.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74MYR 7.04
$1.71Rp 30.6K
1.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MYR 3.22
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-68.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MYR 5.10
$1.20Rp 21.5K
5.00%
Eggs
$1.84MYR 7.45
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-24.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.50MYR 26.36
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-54.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.43MYR 17.96
$4.31Rp 77.1K
2.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.40MYR 38.11
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-23.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22MYR 13.07
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-12.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34MYR 5.44
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-13.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10MYR 12.58
$2.79Rp 49.9K
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56MYR 6.32
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-33.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53MYR 6.20
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-22.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82MYR 7.38
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-21.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58MYR 6.41
$1.06Rp 19.1K
49.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.10
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-28.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36MYR 17.66
$3.28Rp 58.8K
32.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.31MYR 58.0
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-37.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76MYR 11.18
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-1.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93MYR 11.89
$2.78Rp 49.9K
5.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MYR 2.75
$0.29Rp 5,217
134.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.59MYR 46.99
$8.06Rp 144.4K
43.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92MYR 3.74
$0.45Rp 8,047
104.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02MYR 4.15
$0.45Rp 8,094
126.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MYR 23.56
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-6.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 2.00
$0.85Rp 15.2K
-42.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KMYR 141.9K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
34.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1KMYR 154.4K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
20.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.17MYR 187
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-42.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.82MYR 35.76
$4.06Rp 72.7K
117.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.27MYR 90.3
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-8.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.22MYR 155
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-60.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.96MYR 36.35
$6.45Rp 115.5K
38.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MYR 19.95
$4.04Rp 72.4K
21.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188MYR 762
$304Rp 5.4M
-38.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,937MYR 28.1K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
4.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6MYR 258
$54.2Rp 971.7K
17.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.96MYR 76.9
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-51.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2MYR 297
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.18MYR 163
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-47.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$337MYR 1,368
$986Rp 17.7M
-65.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MYR 954
$658Rp 11.8M
-64.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$637MYR 2,583
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-81.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373MYR 1,511
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-81.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,047MYR 8,299
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-25.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452MYR 5,887
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-34.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,266MYR 5,135
$163Rp 2.9M
674.92%
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 Putrajaya: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Putrajaya and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Putrajaya pays 675% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Putrajaya vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $297 per month, with Putrajaya 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
Putrajaya vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Putrajaya or Ubud, Bali?
Putrajaya wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Putrajaya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Putrajaya or Ubud, Bali?
Putrajaya pays 675% more on average, 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 Putrajaya vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $337 in Putrajaya versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Putrajaya vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Putrajaya runs roughly 44% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Putrajaya and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $188 in Putrajaya versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Putrajaya or Ubud, Bali?
At $814 in Putrajaya versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Putrajaya but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Putrajaya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Putrajaya or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Putrajaya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $814 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Putrajaya hard to pass up.
How safe is Putrajaya compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Putrajaya 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 Putrajaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.