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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $865 per month in Tawau vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,320 per month in Tawau vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Tawau vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Tawau is about 38% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Tawau sits 36% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 MYR 14.72

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 MYR 75.7

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

-42.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 MYR 16.46

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

-16.46%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 9.03

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-18.91%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MYR 1.62

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 MYR 9.29

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

-21.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.75

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

-10.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MYR 6.49

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-6.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 MYR 5.30

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-46.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.83

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

40.00%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.29

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-16.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 60.2

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

3.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.26 MYR 17.27

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

-1.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 MYR 39.33

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-20.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.13

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-18.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 5.99

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.62

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-6.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.64

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-40.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.05

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-37.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.12

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-45.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-5.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-24.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 17.02

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

28.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 MYR 77.5

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-16.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 11.17

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.82

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

4.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.29 Rp 5,217

134.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.97 MYR 48.52

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

48.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.70

$0.45 Rp 8,047

157.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 MYR 4.21

$0.45 Rp 8,094

131.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 MYR 24.50

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

-3.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-42.35%

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

$35.9K MYR 145.8K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

38.37%

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

$31.3K MYR 127.1K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-1.00%

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

$43.00 MYR 174

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-46.75%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.21

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

119.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.39 MYR 119

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

20.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.21 MYR 147

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-62.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.25

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

-11.16%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 MYR 11.74

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

-28.22%

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

$187 MYR 757

$304 Rp 5.4M

-38.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,040 MYR 28.5K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

6.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 MYR 242

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

10.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.46 MYR 111

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-29.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 MYR 298

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-14.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.5 MYR 205

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-34.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,584

$986 Rp 17.7M

-60.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 MYR 1,087

$658 Rp 11.8M

-59.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 MYR 2,609

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-80.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,897

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-77.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,168 MYR 8,790

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

-20.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$985 MYR 3,993

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

-55.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$421 MYR 1,708

$163 Rp 2.9M

157.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

13.28

-69.35%

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

Last update for Tawau: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Tawau versus $986 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 158% higher in Tawau, 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 Tawau versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $297 – making Tawau 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 62% more than Tawau, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,298 per month in Tawau and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

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

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tawau, where all-in costs run around $865, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Tawau 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. Tawau costs $865 versus $1,404 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 Tawau. 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.