Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Batu Kawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Batu Kawan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $934 in Batu Kawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,453 in Batu Kawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,972 in Batu Kawan.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 50% more expensive than Batu Kawan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Batu Kawan is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$4.64 MYR 18.81

-23.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$28.74 MYR 117

13.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.83 MYR 19.60

0.62%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$3.09 MYR 12.54

-11.00%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.91 MYR 3.68

45.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.49 MYR 1.99

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$4.16 MYR 16.88

-30.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$6.04 MYR 24.49

-37.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.43 MYR 5.81

19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.04 MYR 4.22

137.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.69 MYR 2.78

73.91%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.95 MYR 7.90

25.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$14.34 MYR 58.2

0.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.75 MYR 19.26

-9.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$9.46 MYR 38.35

29.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.97 MYR 12.03

23.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.62 MYR 6.58

-4.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.61 MYR 10.56

6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.50 MYR 6.09

55.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.22 MYR 4.96

61.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.35 MYR 5.47

71.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.18 MYR 4.78

-10.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.66 MYR 2.68

10.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$4.12 MYR 16.69

-20.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$19.21 MYR 77.9

18.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$3.40 MYR 13.78

-17.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$4.20 MYR 17.05

-33.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.74 MYR 2.99

-60.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$11.81 MYR 47.88

-31.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$1.14 MYR 4.61

-60.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$4.59 MYR 18.61

35.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.51 MYR 2.06

66.67%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$30.2K MYR 122.5K

-14.01%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$32.3K MYR 130.8K

-1.88%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$63.3 MYR 257

27.57%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$11.59 MYR 46.99

-64.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$23.38 MYR 94.8

4.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$36.41 MYR 148

168.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$6.01 MYR 24.38

7.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$3.51 MYR 14.23

15.10%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$271 MYR 1,097

12.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$9,538 MYR 38.7K

-30.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$62.0 MYR 251

-12.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$37.29 MYR 151

4.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$85.2 MYR 346

1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$80.0 MYR 324

-4.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$394 MYR 1,596

150.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$270 MYR 1,094

143.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$632 MYR 2,563

433.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$480 MYR 1,945

330.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,907 MYR 7,734

43.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$971 MYR 3,937

129.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$1,859 MYR 7,539

-91.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

232.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $394 in Batu Kawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batu Kawan pays 1038% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Batu Kawan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $256 per month, with Batu Kawan 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

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

Batu Kawan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Batu Kawan earns 1038% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $394 in Batu Kawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $934 in Batu Kawan – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Batu Kawan runs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $934 in Batu Kawan versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batu Kawan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Batu Kawan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Batu Kawan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Batu Kawan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Batu Kawan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.