🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $813 in Putrajaya versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Putrajaya versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Putrajaya versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Putrajaya costs roughly 43% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Putrajaya is 39% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61MYR 14.24
$3.57Rp 61.6K
1.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11MYR 75.5
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-41.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58MYR 18.11
$5.07Rp 87.5K
-9.66%
Cappuccino
$3.02MYR 11.94
$2.83Rp 48.8K
6.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76MYR 2.99
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-43.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MYR 1.49
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-44.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56MYR 14.07
$2.99Rp 51.6K
19.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MYR 17.64
$3.85Rp 66.4K
16.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MYR 6.52
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-5.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80MYR 3.15
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-68.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24MYR 4.91
$1.19Rp 20.6K
4.20%
Eggs
$1.80MYR 7.11
$2.43Rp 41.9K
-25.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.41MYR 25.33
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-56.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.43MYR 17.48
$4.18Rp 72.1K
5.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.28MYR 36.67
$11.94Rp 206.1K
-22.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16MYR 12.48
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-14.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34MYR 5.29
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-16.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.14MYR 12.42
$2.69Rp 46.4K
16.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61MYR 6.38
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-30.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50MYR 5.94
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-21.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80MYR 7.11
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-17.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64MYR 6.47
$1.06Rp 18.3K
54.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MYR 2.23
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MYR 16.43
$3.13Rp 54.1K
32.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.83MYR 58.6
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-36.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85MYR 11.25
$2.74Rp 47.3K
4.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MYR 11.53
$2.88Rp 49.7K
1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MYR 2.71
$0.29Rp 5,010
137.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.86MYR 46.86
$8.17Rp 141.0K
45.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90MYR 3.56
$0.45Rp 7,834
100.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02MYR 4.05
$0.42Rp 7,278
142.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.76MYR 22.73
$6.16Rp 106.3K
-6.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 1.98
$0.84Rp 14.5K
-40.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KMYR 141.7K
$26.2KRp 453.1M
36.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KMYR 149.9K
$32.5KRp 560.8M
16.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.05MYR 182
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-41.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.11MYR 36.00
$3.95Rp 68.2K
130.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53MYR 89.0
$24.40Rp 421.4K
-7.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.33MYR 147
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-61.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.78MYR 34.70
$6.35Rp 109.6K
38.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MYR 19.33
$4.04Rp 69.7K
21.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187MYR 740
$303Rp 5.2M
-38.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,902MYR 27.3K
$6,523Rp 112.6M
5.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5MYR 259
$53.8Rp 929.5K
21.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.86MYR 74.5
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-50.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7MYR 291
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-15.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.66MYR 161
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-48.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344MYR 1,357
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-66.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236MYR 932
$674Rp 11.6M
-65.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640MYR 2,528
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-81.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373MYR 1,474
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-82.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,097MYR 8,282
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-29.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,496MYR 5,908
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-36.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,283MYR 5,068
$173Rp 3.0M
641.15%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Putrajaya and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Putrajaya pays 641% 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 $222 vs $298 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 77% 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 641% 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: $344 in Putrajaya versus $1,012 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 45% 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 $187 in Putrajaya versus $303 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 $813 in Putrajaya versus $1,438 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 $813 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 77% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.