🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $824 in Sungai Petani versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Sungai Petani versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,684 in Sungai Petani versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Sungai Petani costs roughly 41% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sungai Petani is 38% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07MYR 12.57
$3.45Rp 62.1K
-11.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.95MYR 85.7
$32.34Rp 581.1K
-35.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.16MYR 17.01
$4.84Rp 87.1K
-14.05%
Cappuccino
$1.66MYR 6.80
$2.75Rp 49.4K
-39.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 2.02
$1.38Rp 24.9K
-64.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25MYR 1.02
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.49MYR 18.36
$2.99Rp 53.8K
50.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84MYR 11.62
$3.85Rp 69.2K
-26.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82MYR 7.44
$1.74Rp 31.2K
4.60%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68MYR 2.80
$2.46Rp 44.2K
-72.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25MYR 5.12
$1.17Rp 21.0K
6.84%
Eggs
$2.13MYR 8.70
$2.43Rp 43.7K
-12.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.89MYR 60.9
$14.50Rp 260.6K
2.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60MYR 14.73
$4.35Rp 78.2K
-17.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.79MYR 40.05
$11.98Rp 215.3K
-18.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91MYR 11.91
$3.72Rp 66.8K
-21.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52MYR 6.21
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-6.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72MYR 11.14
$2.74Rp 49.3K
-0.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MYR 8.59
$2.24Rp 40.3K
-6.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18MYR 4.84
$1.92Rp 34.5K
-38.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16MYR 4.76
$2.28Rp 40.9K
-49.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90MYR 3.69
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-15.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46MYR 1.87
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99MYR 16.33
$3.29Rp 59.0K
21.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87MYR 77.2
$23.19Rp 416.8K
-18.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70MYR 11.04
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-2.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MYR 14.20
$2.73Rp 49.1K
27.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70MYR 2.85
$0.27Rp 4,786
159.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.96MYR 48.94
$8.11Rp 145.7K
47.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74MYR 3.04
$0.48Rp 8,675
54.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MYR 2.04
$0.42Rp 7,545
19.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.02MYR 28.71
$6.22Rp 111.8K
12.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.05
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-38.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KMYR 134.7K
$26.6KRp 478.2M
23.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMYR 111.4K
$32.2KRp 578.5M
-15.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.01MYR 160
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-50.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.93MYR 40.63
$4.07Rp 73.1K
143.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39MYR 128
$24.33Rp 437.1K
29.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.48MYR 149
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-63.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92MYR 24.22
$6.34Rp 113.9K
-6.62%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79MYR 11.41
$3.99Rp 71.6K
-30.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$240MYR 983
$305Rp 5.5M
-21.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,266MYR 25.6K
$6,642Rp 119.4M
-5.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0MYR 221
$54.1Rp 972.9K
-0.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.31MYR 116
$37.81Rp 679.4K
-25.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.3MYR 255
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-28.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8MYR 220
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-29.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384MYR 1,571
$992Rp 17.8M
-61.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MYR 1,106
$673Rp 12.1M
-59.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$634MYR 2,593
$3,375Rp 60.7M
-81.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479MYR 1,960
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-76.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,051MYR 8,389
$2,805Rp 50.4M
-26.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,180MYR 4,826
$2,227Rp 40.0M
-47.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sungai Petani
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494MYR 2,020
$167Rp 3.0M
195.82%
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 Sungai Petani: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Sungai Petani and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sungai Petani pays 196% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Sungai Petani vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $297 per month, with Sungai Petani 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
Sungai Petani vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sungai Petani and in Ubud, Bali?
Sungai Petani and Ubud, Bali differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($824 vs $1,408 including rent). Sungai Petani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sungai Petani or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 196% higher in Sungai Petani, 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 Sungai Petani and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Sungai Petani versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sungai Petani and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $240 in Sungai Petani versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $824 in Sungai Petani versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sungai Petani but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sungai Petani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sungai Petani 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 Sungai Petani or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sungai Petani 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: Sungai Petani or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Sungai Petani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sungai Petani vs other spots: cost of living compared