Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Alor Setar Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Alor Setar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $912 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,309 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,707 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 51% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Alor Setar is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$2.09 MYR 8.51

59.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$12.42 MYR 50.5

188.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$4.13 MYR 16.81

36.32%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.92 MYR 7.80

46.87%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.53 MYR 2.17

230.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.31 MYR 1.28

158.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.47 MYR 10.03

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.39 MYR 17.84

-2.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.61 MYR 6.56

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.85 MYR 3.47

167.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.69 MYR 6.88

-30.77%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.55 MYR 6.30

40.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$15.86 MYR 64.5

11.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.98 MYR 20.24

-18.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$10.04 MYR 40.85

21.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.45 MYR 9.96

47.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.26 MYR 5.11

30.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$2.35 MYR 9.55

-1.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.27 MYR 5.16

54.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.87 MYR 3.55

111.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.80 MYR 3.27

196.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.78 MYR 3.16

34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.65 MYR 2.64

-16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.65 MYR 18.91

-50.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$21.55 MYR 87.7

7.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.42 MYR 9.85

-3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$3.66 MYR 14.90

-16.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.77 MYR 3.13

-67.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$12.49 MYR 50.8

-24.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.21 MYR 4.91

-59.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.51 MYR 2.09

-7.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$6.70 MYR 27.25

-16.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.50 MYR 2.02

62.00%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$42.7K MYR 173.6K

-41.39%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$28.3K MYR 115.0K

9.88%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$51.8 MYR 211

59.69%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$7.58 MYR 30.85

-14.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$21.95 MYR 89.3

-14.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$40.67 MYR 165

35.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$6.65 MYR 27.03

173.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.67 MYR 18.99

-7.92%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$175 MYR 712

182.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$5,032 MYR 20.5K

17.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$54.2 MYR 221

-14.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$35.61 MYR 145

2.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$74.1 MYR 301

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$70.5 MYR 287

11.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$427 MYR 1,735

161.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$336 MYR 1,367

106.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$712 MYR 2,895

411.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$505 MYR 2,055

239.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$2,038 MYR 8,289

35.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,146 MYR 4,664

99.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$1,646 MYR 6,696

-89.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.43

211.06%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $427 in Alor Setar. 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 885% higher in Alor Setar, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $253 – making Alor Setar 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 51% more than Alor Setar, 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 $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,368 in Alor Setar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $175 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Alor Setar, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Alor Setar 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. Alor Setar costs $912 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 Alor Setar. 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.