🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $796 in Seremban versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Seremban versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,763 in Seremban versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Seremban costs roughly 43% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Seremban is 42% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75MYR 15.15
$3.37Rp 59.5K
11.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09MYR 89.3
$38.59Rp 680.3K
-42.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.81MYR 15.41
$5.52Rp 97.3K
-30.98%
Cappuccino
$2.88MYR 11.63
$2.64Rp 46.6K
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84MYR 3.39
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-49.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MYR 1.84
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-40.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.66MYR 14.78
$2.63Rp 46.4K
39.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MYR 19.62
$4.28Rp 75.5K
13.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77MYR 7.15
$1.55Rp 27.3K
14.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07MYR 4.33
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-51.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MYR 6.08
$1.13Rp 19.8K
32.74%
Eggs
$1.70MYR 6.89
$2.09Rp 36.8K
-18.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.50MYR 74.8
$17.39Rp 306.6K
6.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.50MYR 18.17
$3.87Rp 68.2K
16.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.36MYR 41.85
$12.55Rp 221.2K
-17.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44MYR 13.89
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-4.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31MYR 5.28
$1.56Rp 27.5K
-16.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.75MYR 19.18
$2.35Rp 41.5K
102.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.60
$2.06Rp 36.2K
-33.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04MYR 4.20
$1.90Rp 33.5K
-45.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20MYR 4.86
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-48.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MYR 4.96
$1.03Rp 18.2K
19.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.08
$0.55Rp 9,779
-5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43MYR 17.89
$2.25Rp 39.7K
96.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37MYR 58.1
$23.81Rp 419.7K
-39.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95MYR 11.94
$2.31Rp 40.8K
27.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12MYR 12.61
$2.80Rp 49.4K
11.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25MYR 5.05
$0.27Rp 4,802
362.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.58MYR 99.3
$8.66Rp 152.7K
183.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71MYR 2.85
$0.48Rp 8,489
47.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71MYR 2.85
$0.45Rp 7,863
57.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.10MYR 40.81
$5.72Rp 100.8K
76.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61MYR 2.45
$0.76Rp 13.4K
-19.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8KMYR 168.9K
$24.5KRp 431.6M
70.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KMYR 143.5K
$32.1KRp 566.3M
10.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.50MYR 184
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-45.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82MYR 43.74
$6.46Rp 113.8K
67.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.27MYR 118
$18.99Rp 334.8K
54.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.3MYR 268
$56.0Rp 986.8K
18.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.33MYR 17.51
$4.28Rp 75.5K
1.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$184MYR 745
$487Rp 8.6M
-62.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,510MYR 18.2K
$5,856Rp 103.2M
-22.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.68MYR 201
$45.56Rp 803.2K
9.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.48MYR 147
$36.38Rp 641.4K
0.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.1MYR 328
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-1.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7MYR 354
$80.4Rp 1.4M
9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$184MYR 744
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-83.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$122MYR 491
$701Rp 12.4M
-82.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$306MYR 1,236
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-91.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254MYR 1,028
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-85.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seremban
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$799MYR 3,230
$170Rp 3.0M
370.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
13.78
-70.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seremban: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $184 in Seremban and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Seremban pays 371% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Seremban vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $293 per month, with Seremban 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
Seremban vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seremban or Ubud, Bali?
Seremban wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seremban the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Seremban or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 371% higher in Seremban, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Seremban compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $184 in Seremban versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Seremban compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Seremban runs roughly 184% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Seremban and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $184 in Seremban versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Seremban or in Ubud, Bali?
At $796 in Seremban versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Seremban but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Seremban the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Seremban or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Seremban delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $796 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Seremban hard to pass up.
How safe is Seremban compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Seremban 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Seremban gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.