Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiping and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiping and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $893 per month in Taiping vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,169 per month in Taiping vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,444 per month in Taiping vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Taiping is about 35% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Taiping sits 35% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 MYR 7.96

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

-41.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.65 MYR 100

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-31.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.37 MYR 17.77

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

-22.38%

Cappuccino

$1.53 MYR 6.23

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-45.74%

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

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-66.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MYR 1.06

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-67.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.81

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 MYR 20.65

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

18.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 MYR 6.38

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-62.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 MYR 2.50

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

-47.86%

Eggs

$1.35 MYR 5.49

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-37.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.53 MYR 63.2

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-11.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 19.00

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 MYR 33.67

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-32.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MYR 11.88

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-19.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 MYR 7.64

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 MYR 9.83

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.91

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-38.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 MYR 3.14

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.95

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

91.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 79.0

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-15.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.12

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

48.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 MYR 20.44

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

63.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$0.25 Rp 4,365

192.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 MYR 34.30

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

-10.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MYR 4.61

$0.49 Rp 8,631

130.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.47 Rp 8,349

-17.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 MYR 19.76

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

-13.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-38.27%

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

$33.3K MYR 135.5K

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

33.17%

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

$28.5K MYR 115.8K

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-8.39%

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

$63.6 MYR 259

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-23.13%

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

$5.53 MYR 22.52

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

-14.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.20 MYR 107

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

39.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.76 MYR 76.3

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-66.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.54 MYR 10.32

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

-86.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MYR 19.22

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

9.77%

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

$126 MYR 512

$494 Rp 8.7M

-74.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,824 MYR 35.9K

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

49.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.90 MYR 203

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

7.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.36 MYR 128

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-13.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.3 MYR 229

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-30.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.52 MYR 201

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-37.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 MYR 512

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-88.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 MYR 1,327

$693 Rp 12.2M

-52.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 MYR 1,439

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-90.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,105

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-84.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,029 MYR 8,255

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-26.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,114 MYR 4,533

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-51.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 MYR 2,297

$167 Rp 2.9M

237.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.95

13.78

-71.34%

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

Last update for Taiping: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Taiping versus $1,114 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 238% higher in Taiping, 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 $25.00 in Taiping versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $294 – making Taiping 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 54% more than Taiping, 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 $1,340 per month in Taiping and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 12% less in Taiping. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $126 per month in Taiping and $494 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 Taiping, where all-in costs run around $893, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Taiping 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. Taiping costs $893 versus $1,378 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 Taiping. 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.