🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $796 in Putrajaya versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Putrajaya versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,614 in Putrajaya versus $3,723 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 40% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56MYR 14.53
$3.57Rp 64.3K
-0.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.70MYR 76.4
$32.32Rp 581.4K
-42.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58MYR 18.70
$5.01Rp 90.1K
-8.58%
Cappuccino
$2.86MYR 11.69
$2.82Rp 50.8K
1.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80MYR 3.26
$1.35Rp 24.3K
-40.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.52
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-49.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.45MYR 14.08
$2.93Rp 52.8K
17.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39MYR 17.94
$3.94Rp 70.8K
11.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MYR 6.82
$1.78Rp 32.0K
-6.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83MYR 3.41
$2.45Rp 44.1K
-66.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MYR 5.25
$1.15Rp 20.7K
11.30%
Eggs
$1.88MYR 7.68
$2.41Rp 43.4K
-21.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.57MYR 26.81
$14.33Rp 257.8K
-54.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31MYR 17.60
$4.19Rp 75.3K
2.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.23MYR 37.67
$12.06Rp 216.9K
-23.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21MYR 13.12
$3.64Rp 65.4K
-11.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.64
$1.57Rp 28.2K
-12.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11MYR 12.69
$2.79Rp 50.1K
11.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55MYR 6.32
$2.24Rp 40.3K
-30.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52MYR 6.19
$1.98Rp 35.6K
-23.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73MYR 7.07
$2.28Rp 41.0K
-24.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66MYR 6.77
$1.05Rp 19.0K
58.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.12
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-34.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MYR 17.43
$3.19Rp 57.4K
33.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.30MYR 54.3
$23.49Rp 422.6K
-43.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84MYR 11.58
$2.90Rp 52.1K
-2.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87MYR 11.73
$2.76Rp 49.6K
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72MYR 2.94
$0.27Rp 4,796
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.84MYR 48.33
$8.37Rp 150.5K
41.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MYR 3.99
$0.45Rp 8,138
117.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98MYR 4.01
$0.46Rp 8,269
113.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02MYR 24.57
$6.07Rp 109.2K
-0.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.89
$0.86Rp 15.6K
-46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KMYR 145.7K
$26.6KRp 478.3M
34.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KMYR 154.8K
$32.5KRp 585.6M
16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.30MYR 185
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-42.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.28MYR 37.88
$4.09Rp 73.6K
126.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.62MYR 92.4
$23.85Rp 429.0K
-5.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.22MYR 156
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-61.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.01MYR 36.80
$6.35Rp 114.3K
41.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09MYR 20.78
$4.01Rp 72.1K
26.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186MYR 759
$297Rp 5.3M
-37.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,832MYR 27.9K
$6,602Rp 118.8M
3.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0MYR 269
$53.4Rp 961.1K
23.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.02MYR 77.6
$38.11Rp 685.7K
-50.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.8MYR 301
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-16.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.92MYR 163
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-47.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$342MYR 1,396
$1,020Rp 18.3M
-66.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MYR 959
$680Rp 12.2M
-65.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620MYR 2,533
$3,469Rp 62.4M
-82.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380MYR 1,552
$2,090Rp 37.6M
-81.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,685MYR 11.0K
$2,729Rp 49.1M
-1.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,803MYR 7,364
$2,295Rp 41.3M
-21.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,041MYR 4,251
$164Rp 2.9M
536.03%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $342 in Putrajaya and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Putrajaya pays 536% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 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 75% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 536% higher in Putrajaya, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $342 in Putrajaya versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Putrajaya compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Putrajaya runs roughly 41% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $186 in Putrajaya versus $297 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $796 in Putrajaya versus $1,392 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 $796 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 75% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.