🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $830 in Putrajaya versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,234 in Putrajaya versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,638 in Putrajaya versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Putrajaya costs roughly 39% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Putrajaya is 39% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.78MYR 15.45
$3.44Rp 60.9K
9.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.96MYR 81.5
$36.31Rp 643.0K
-45.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.89MYR 15.89
$5.71Rp 101.0K
-31.87%
Cappuccino
$2.94MYR 12.00
$2.67Rp 47.3K
10.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80MYR 3.28
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-54.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MYR 1.61
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-55.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59MYR 14.65
$2.95Rp 52.3K
21.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MYR 18.99
$4.52Rp 80.0K
2.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75MYR 7.16
$1.62Rp 28.7K
8.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10MYR 4.47
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-52.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.88
$1.11Rp 19.6K
29.73%
Eggs
$1.73MYR 7.08
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-21.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.69MYR 31.39
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-56.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.56MYR 18.62
$4.10Rp 72.5K
11.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.95MYR 40.61
$12.18Rp 215.6K
-18.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48MYR 10.13
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-33.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MYR 6.43
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-1.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25MYR 9.19
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67MYR 6.83
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-14.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.62
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-27.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43MYR 5.83
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-38.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31MYR 5.37
$1.01Rp 17.8K
29.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51MYR 2.08
$0.55Rp 9,773
-7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21MYR 17.20
$2.23Rp 39.5K
88.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.26MYR 54.1
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-42.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95MYR 12.06
$2.42Rp 42.8K
21.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15MYR 12.84
$3.00Rp 53.1K
5.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MYR 3.15
$0.27Rp 4,814
185.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.34MYR 50.4
$8.98Rp 159.1K
37.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01MYR 4.14
$0.48Rp 8,566
110.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47MYR 1.94
$0.43Rp 7,679
9.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.97MYR 40.71
$5.64Rp 99.9K
76.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70MYR 2.84
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.7KMYR 170.1K
$24.9KRp 441.7M
67.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KMYR 138.3K
$31.7KRp 561.5M
6.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.1MYR 217
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-34.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26MYR 45.97
$6.49Rp 115.0K
73.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.15MYR 94.5
$18.77Rp 332.4K
23.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.95MYR 143
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-38.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.53MYR 38.91
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-49.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.03MYR 20.53
$4.54Rp 80.4K
10.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$514MYR 2,099
$481Rp 8.5M
6.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,473MYR 18.3K
$5,711Rp 101.1M
-21.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0MYR 269
$45.52Rp 806.0K
45.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.57MYR 67.7
$35.88Rp 635.4K
-53.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MYR 335
$80.4Rp 1.4M
2.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.0MYR 347
$78.7Rp 1.4M
8.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350MYR 1,428
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-68.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225MYR 920
$698Rp 12.4M
-67.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650MYR 2,653
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-82.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362MYR 1,478
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-79.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,705MYR 11.0K
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-2.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,786MYR 7,292
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-21.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MYR 4,276
$168Rp 3.0M
523.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
13.78
-70.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Putrajaya: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $350 in Putrajaya and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Putrajaya pays 523% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Putrajaya vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $295 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 65% 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 523% 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: $350 in Putrajaya versus $1,115 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 37% 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 $514 in Putrajaya versus $481 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 $830 in Putrajaya versus $1,368 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 $830 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 65% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.