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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,008 in Selangor versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,449 in Selangor versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,890 in Selangor versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Selangor costs roughly 29% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Selangor is 25% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56 MYR 10.16
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
-28.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.14 MYR 91.7
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-29.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.74 MYR 14.84
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
-24.44%
Cappuccino
$2.23 MYR 8.83
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-17.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MYR 3.06
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-42.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 MYR 1.32
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-52.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.19 MYR 16.62
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
43.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 MYR 21.15
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
34.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 MYR 7.26
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
1.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 MYR 4.00
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-59.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.74
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
25.00%
Eggs
$1.83 MYR 7.24
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-25.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.43 MYR 57.2
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-1.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.66 MYR 18.46
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
7.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 MYR 38.98
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-19.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MYR 11.37
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-25.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 MYR 6.52
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
5.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 MYR 10.65
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-4.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 MYR 5.98
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-35.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 MYR 5.03
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-33.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 MYR 3.93
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-55.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MYR 4.28
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
6.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MYR 2.15
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 MYR 17.12
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
30.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.54 MYR 77.5
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-17.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.37 MYR 13.35
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
20.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 MYR 16.88
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
48.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MYR 2.94
$0.27 Rp 4,800
174.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.61 MYR 46.04
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
44.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 MYR 4.79
$0.46 Rp 8,150
163.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.38
$0.45 Rp 8,037
144.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 MYR 17.39
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-28.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.84
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-41.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K MYR 155.8K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
50.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K MYR 126.5K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-0.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.4 MYR 259
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-18.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.48 MYR 37.59
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
133.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.69 MYR 102
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
9.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.55 MYR 153
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-60.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.29 MYR 28.90
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
9.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.20 MYR 20.62
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
25.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 MYR 462
$304 Rp 5.4M
-61.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,384 MYR 17.4K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-33.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 MYR 237
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
7.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.96 MYR 147
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-3.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 MYR 298
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-15.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 MYR 313
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
1.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 MYR 1,749
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-56.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 MYR 1,379
$675 Rp 12.1M
-48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 MYR 3,365
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-75.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$472 MYR 1,871
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-76.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,659 MYR 6,577
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-41.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$726 MYR 2,878
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-67.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Selangor
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,004 MYR 3,980
$165 Rp 3.0M
507.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
13.28
-70.18%

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

Last update for Selangor: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Selangor and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Selangor pays 508% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Selangor vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $302 per month, with Selangor 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
Selangor vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Selangor and Ubud, Bali?
Selangor and Ubud, Bali differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,008 vs $1,419 including rent). Selangor is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Selangor or Ubud, Bali?
Selangor pays 508% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Selangor and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $441 in Selangor versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Selangor – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,008 in Selangor versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Selangor but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Selangor the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Selangor and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Selangor or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Selangor 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.
Where should expats move: Selangor or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Selangor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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