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