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 $909 per month in Sarawak vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,312 per month in Sarawak vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,714 per month in Sarawak vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sarawak is about 35% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sarawak sits 32% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 MYR 13.65

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

1.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 73.9

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

-43.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 MYR 21.37

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

6.50%

Cappuccino

$2.70 MYR 10.66

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

-4.26%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.11

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

-42.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.55

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

-45.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.72 MYR 30.51

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

159.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 MYR 32.13

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

107.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.07

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.92

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

-60.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

1.65%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.08

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

-12.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.06 MYR 59.5

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

3.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.48

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

-39.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 MYR 37.93

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

-20.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.81

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

-21.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.75

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-9.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 9.88

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

-7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.65

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

-35.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.82

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

-35.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.04

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

-41.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MYR 4.09

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.47

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

-18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.41

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

30.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.22 MYR 64.1

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

-30.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 MYR 11.28

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 11.74

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

9.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.87

$0.29 Rp 5,022

151.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 45.65

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

37.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.75

$0.49 Rp 8,344

144.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.90

$0.45 Rp 7,812

120.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 MYR 23.35

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

-5.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

-41.18%

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

$35.2K MYR 139.1K

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

35.09%

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

$31.7K MYR 125.3K

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

0.60%

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

$42.70 MYR 169

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

-46.47%

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

$8.86 MYR 34.99

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

116.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.95 MYR 114

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

20.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.04 MYR 146

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-61.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 23.82

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

-7.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.34

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

18.64%

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

$187 MYR 737

$297 Rp 5.1M

-37.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,975 MYR 27.6K

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

4.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.88 MYR 142

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

-34.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.15 MYR 155

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 MYR 311

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

-12.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 MYR 227

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-27.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 MYR 1,289

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

-67.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 MYR 1,065

$660 Rp 11.3M

-59.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 MYR 1,977

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

-85.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MYR 1,405

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

-82.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,754 MYR 6,928

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

-41.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 MYR 3,498

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

-62.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 MYR 1,696

$172 Rp 3.0M

149.55%

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 Sarawak: April 21, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Sarawak versus $1,018 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 150% 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 in Sarawak versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $299 – 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: $909 in Sarawak, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 55% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,364 per month in Sarawak and $2,112 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 37% less in Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $187 per month in Sarawak and $297 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 $909, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $909 in Sarawak to $1,408 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.