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: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,022 in Batu Kawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,534 in Batu Kawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,045 in Batu Kawan.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 34% more expensive than in Batu Kawan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Batu Kawan is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$5.06 MYR 20.70

-32.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$29.66 MYR 121

22.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$4.79 MYR 19.61

19.21%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$3.19 MYR 13.05

-16.30%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.81 MYR 3.30

116.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.44 MYR 1.81

97.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$4.34 MYR 17.76

-32.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$6.06 MYR 24.80

-25.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.50 MYR 6.14

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.07 MYR 4.38

117.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$0.76 MYR 3.11

46.05%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$2.05 MYR 8.38

7.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$15.75 MYR 64.5

12.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$4.78 MYR 19.57

-14.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$9.67 MYR 39.59

25.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$3.37 MYR 13.81

10.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.93 MYR 7.91

-17.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$2.32 MYR 9.50

-1.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$1.68 MYR 6.87

16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.37 MYR 5.59

39.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.44 MYR 5.88

61.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.15 MYR 4.69

-12.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.69 MYR 2.84

-20.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$4.33 MYR 17.73

-48.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$18.71 MYR 76.6

23.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$3.45 MYR 14.14

-29.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$4.92 MYR 20.12

-39.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.71 MYR 2.93

-61.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

$12.51 MYR 51.2

-28.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$0.72 MYR 2.94

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$0.48 MYR 1.95

-10.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$5.02 MYR 20.55

12.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.81 MYR 3.33

-1.23%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$32.0K MYR 131.0K

-22.07%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$34.2K MYR 139.9K

-7.25%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$64.5 MYR 264

26.29%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$9.11 MYR 37.30

-28.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$23.76 MYR 97.2

-21.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$34.57 MYR 141

64.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$7.10 MYR 29.04

163.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$3.79 MYR 15.53

19.79%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$301 MYR 1,230

59.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$4,862 MYR 19.9K

17.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$70.4 MYR 288

-35.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$42.34 MYR 173

-15.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$88.7 MYR 363

-9.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$86.7 MYR 355

-9.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$412 MYR 1,684

170.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$318 MYR 1,302

119.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$689 MYR 2,822

427.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$493 MYR 2,016

252.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

$2,013 MYR 8,238

38.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

$1,108 MYR 4,535

106.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$1,844 MYR 7,547

-90.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

244.50%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $412 in Batu Kawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batu Kawan pays 997% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $30.00 in Batu Kawan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $268 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 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 997% lower in Batu Kawan. 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: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $412 in Batu Kawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,022 in Batu Kawan – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Batu Kawan runs roughly 39% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,022 in Batu Kawan versus $1,368 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 34% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.