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 $910 per month in Sarawak vs $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,313 per month in Sarawak vs $2,588 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,716 per month in Sarawak vs $3,778 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

$3.57 MYR 14.59

$3.43 Rp 61.5K

4.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.74 MYR 76.6

$31.97 Rp 573.3K

-41.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 MYR 21.32

$5.05 Rp 90.6K

3.17%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.43

$2.71 Rp 48.7K

2.95%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$1.39 Rp 24.9K

-43.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

-47.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.67 MYR 31.38

$2.89 Rp 51.9K

165.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.42 MYR 34.42

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

122.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.43

$1.79 Rp 32.2K

1.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.08

$2.51 Rp 44.9K

-60.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.13

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

3.31%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.73

$2.37 Rp 42.5K

-9.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 60.7

$14.43 Rp 258.8K

2.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.49

$4.15 Rp 74.4K

-38.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 MYR 38.80

$12.11 Rp 217.3K

-21.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.80

$3.77 Rp 67.6K

-23.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.26

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-6.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.23

$2.71 Rp 48.5K

-7.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.61

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

-39.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.06

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

-35.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.39

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

-39.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 MYR 4.07

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 MYR 2.71

$0.72 Rp 12.8K

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 17.09

$3.18 Rp 57.1K

31.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.95 MYR 69.3

$23.84 Rp 427.5K

-28.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 MYR 11.51

$2.77 Rp 49.8K

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

10.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.27 Rp 4,794

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.74 MYR 48.00

$8.20 Rp 147.0K

43.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$0.48 Rp 8,668

150.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.20

$0.42 Rp 7,557

145.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 MYR 24.04

$6.03 Rp 108.1K

-2.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

-39.02%

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

$35.1K MYR 143.6K

$26.6K Rp 476.4M

32.15%

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

$31.9K MYR 130.6K

$32.2K Rp 577.6M

-0.82%

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

$43.10 MYR 176

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

-44.92%

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

$8.86 MYR 36.24

$3.91 Rp 70.2K

126.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.05 MYR 119

$23.91 Rp 428.9K

21.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 MYR 152

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-61.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 MYR 24.69

$6.53 Rp 117.0K

-7.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 20.38

$4.01 Rp 72.0K

24.19%

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

$189 MYR 771

$303 Rp 5.4M

-37.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,901 MYR 28.2K

$6,551 Rp 117.5M

5.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.25 MYR 148

$55.3 Rp 992.0K

-34.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.85 MYR 159

$38.32 Rp 687.3K

1.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 MYR 319

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

-11.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 MYR 229

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-26.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 MYR 1,347

$986 Rp 17.7M

-66.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,116

$682 Rp 12.2M

-59.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 2,038

$3,420 Rp 61.3M

-85.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MYR 1,455

$2,075 Rp 37.2M

-82.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,076 MYR 8,489

$2,762 Rp 49.5M

-24.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,136 MYR 4,646

$2,243 Rp 40.2M

-49.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$417 MYR 1,706

$169 Rp 3.0M

147.20%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $329 in Sarawak versus $986 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 147% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $298 – 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: $910 in Sarawak, $1,397 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 54% 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 $2,096 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 43% less in Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $189 per month in Sarawak and $303 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 $910, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,397. 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 $910 in Sarawak to $1,397 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.