Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $982 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,469 per month in Setia Alam vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,956 per month in Setia Alam vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Setia Alam is about 30% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Setia Alam sits 29% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 MYR 19.64

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

44.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.49 MYR 98.8

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

-36.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.44

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

-12.68%

Cappuccino

$3.23 MYR 13.05

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

22.35%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.20

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-52.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.85

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-40.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.57 MYR 18.45

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

73.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 MYR 24.71

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

43.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.45

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

19.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-65.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

-6.19%

Eggs

$1.79 MYR 7.23

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

-14.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 MYR 20.42

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

-70.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 MYR 17.30

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

10.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.65 MYR 38.94

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

-23.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.56

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-61.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 MYR 7.68

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

21.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.53

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

-41.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.18

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-25.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.61

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-26.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.43

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-42.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 MYR 2.56

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-38.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.27

$0.55 Rp 9,809

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 MYR 17.52

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

92.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 78.3

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-18.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 MYR 14.19

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

52.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.59

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

73.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 MYR 2.86

$0.27 Rp 4,816

162.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 MYR 49.01

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

40.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 MYR 5.11

$0.48 Rp 8,515

164.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 MYR 5.11

$0.45 Rp 7,887

182.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 MYR 20.11

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

-12.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 MYR 2.65

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

-13.16%

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

$41.6K MYR 168.0K

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

70.07%

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

$34.8K MYR 140.5K

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

8.46%

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

$63.0 MYR 254

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-24.56%

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

$9.14 MYR 36.86

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

41.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 MYR 107

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

39.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 MYR 231

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

2.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 MYR 26.33

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

-64.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.42

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

24.07%

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

$176 MYR 711

$487 Rp 8.6M

-63.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K MYR 44.9K

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

89.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 MYR 297

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

61.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.69 MYR 104

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

-29.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 MYR 367

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

10.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 MYR 223

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-31.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 MYR 2,163

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-51.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 MYR 1,277

$701 Rp 12.4M

-54.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 MYR 3,521

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-75.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 MYR 2,219

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-68.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,066 MYR 8,335

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

-26.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,112 MYR 4,487

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

-51.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,151 MYR 4,643

$170 Rp 3.0M

577.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

13.78

-70.10%

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

Last update for Setia Alam: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $536 in Setia Alam versus $1,117 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 578% higher in Setia Alam, 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 $24.00 in Setia Alam versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $293 – making Setia Alam 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

Setia Alam vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 42% more than Setia Alam, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,472 per month in Setia Alam and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Setia Alam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 40% less in Setia Alam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Setia Alam and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Setia Alam, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Setia Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Setia Alam costs $982 versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Setia Alam. 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.