Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $986 per month in Sarawak vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Sarawak vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Sarawak vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sarawak is about 28% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sarawak sits 29% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.19

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

12.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.47 MYR 79.2

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-45.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

-12.79%

Cappuccino

$3.00 MYR 12.22

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

6.38%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.36

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-53.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.61

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-51.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 MYR 14.77

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

19.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.46

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

5.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.40

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.32

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-53.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.15

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

29.06%

Eggs

$1.85 MYR 7.54

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-14.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 MYR 53.6

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-25.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 MYR 17.84

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

8.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 39.85

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-19.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 MYR 13.26

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-9.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.18

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

7.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 MYR 9.81

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.74

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.37

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-28.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.74

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-50.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.92

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

15.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$0.54 Rp 9,560

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 MYR 17.89

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

91.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.47 MYR 79.2

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-15.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.29

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

29.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MYR 14.97

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

19.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.92

$0.25 Rp 4,365

188.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.50 MYR 50.9

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

32.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$0.49 Rp 8,631

144.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$0.47 Rp 8,349

2.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 MYR 29.77

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

30.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 MYR 2.96

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-9.88%

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

$42.2K MYR 171.7K

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

68.74%

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

$35.7K MYR 145.3K

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

15.01%

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

$49.33 MYR 201

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-40.37%

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

$9.93 MYR 40.41

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

53.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 MYR 116

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

51.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.37 MYR 164

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-26.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.50 MYR 26.45

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

-64.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MYR 20.13

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

15.12%

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

$177 MYR 718

$494 Rp 8.7M

-64.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,909 MYR 20.0K

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

-17.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 249

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

32.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.90 MYR 146

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 MYR 330

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 MYR 282

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-12.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$422 MYR 1,716

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-62.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 MYR 1,334

$693 Rp 12.2M

-52.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,883

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-80.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 MYR 2,007

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-71.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,086 MYR 8,485

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-24.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,123 MYR 4,567

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-51.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 MYR 1,397

$167 Rp 2.9M

105.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

13.78

-69.52%

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

Last update for Sarawak: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $422 in Sarawak versus $1,114 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 106% higher in Sarawak, 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 Sarawak versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $294 – making Sarawak 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

Sarawak vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $986 in Sarawak, $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 40% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,479 per month in Sarawak and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sarawak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $177 per month in Sarawak and $494 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sarawak, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Sarawak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $986 in Sarawak to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Sarawak. 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.