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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $857 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Shah Alam vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,763 per month in Shah Alam vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Shah Alam is about 40% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Shah Alam sits 36% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 MYR 11.97

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-15.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 MYR 75.1

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-42.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.37

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

-16.57%

Cappuccino

$2.73 MYR 10.81

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

0.74%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.87

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-46.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.46

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-47.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 13.63

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.57

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

11.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.45

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.74

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-62.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.95

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

29.31%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.16

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-16.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 MYR 56.6

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-3.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 MYR 19.60

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

14.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 MYR 32.06

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-33.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MYR 11.20

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-26.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.77

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-6.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.22

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-8.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.82

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-48.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.67

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-38.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.55

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.53

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-11.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.25

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.52

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

25.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 76.1

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-19.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.51

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-5.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 MYR 15.12

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

33.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.27 Rp 4,800

155.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 MYR 60.6

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

90.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$0.46 Rp 8,150

108.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.16

$0.45 Rp 8,037

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.13 MYR 28.27

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

16.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-41.77%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.8K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

28.10%

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

$27.7K MYR 109.9K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-13.74%

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

$41.35 MYR 164

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-48.27%

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

$10.16 MYR 40.27

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

150.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.62 MYR 121

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

30.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.96 MYR 154

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-60.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 23.72

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

-9.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 MYR 25.23

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

53.25%

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

$213 MYR 844

$304 Rp 5.4M

-29.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,253 MYR 24.8K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-5.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.63 MYR 197

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-10.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 MYR 138

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-9.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 MYR 243

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-30.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.83 MYR 194

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-37.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,475

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-63.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,054

$675 Rp 12.1M

-60.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 MYR 2,285

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-83.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,907

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-76.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,553 MYR 6,156

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-45.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 MYR 4,850

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-45.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,263 MYR 5,008

$165 Rp 3.0M

664.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

13.28

-68.67%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Shah Alam versus $1,006 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 664% higher in Shah 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 $19.00 in Shah Alam versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $302 – making Shah 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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,286 per month in Shah Alam and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Shah Alam and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $857 in Shah Alam and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shah Alam, where all-in costs run around $857, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Shah Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shah Alam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Shah 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.