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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $918 in Batu Kawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,428 in Batu Kawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,939 in Batu Kawan.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 52% more expensive than in Batu Kawan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Batu Kawan is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.3K

$4.77 MYR 19.47

-25.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 581.4K

$28.66 MYR 117

12.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.1K

$4.78 MYR 19.51

4.81%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.8K

$2.98 MYR 12.16

-5.37%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.3K

$0.92 MYR 3.77

46.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.49 MYR 2.01

48.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 52.8K

$4.13 MYR 16.85

-29.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 70.8K

$5.90 MYR 24.10

-33.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

$1.38 MYR 5.63

28.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

$1.06 MYR 4.31

131.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.74 MYR 3.03

55.41%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.4K

$2.01 MYR 8.21

19.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 257.8K

$14.53 MYR 59.3

-1.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.3K

$4.56 MYR 18.63

-8.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 216.9K

$9.90 MYR 40.43

21.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

$2.99 MYR 12.20

21.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

$1.62 MYR 6.61

-3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$2.73 MYR 11.14

2.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.50 MYR 6.14

49.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.6K

$1.28 MYR 5.23

54.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$1.35 MYR 5.50

68.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.21 MYR 4.93

-13.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.63 MYR 2.56

25.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.4K

$4.28 MYR 17.48

-25.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 422.6K

$18.46 MYR 75.4

27.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$3.36 MYR 13.74

-13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.6K

$4.29 MYR 17.51

-35.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,796

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-63.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 150.5K

$11.62 MYR 47.45

-27.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,138

$0.68 MYR 2.79

-33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,269

$1.14 MYR 4.67

-59.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.2K

$4.68 MYR 19.09

29.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.51 MYR 2.08

68.63%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.3M

$31.1K MYR 127.1K

-14.58%

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

$32.5K Rp 585.6M

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

0.97%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$63.4 MYR 259

24.62%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.6K

$11.42 MYR 46.62

-64.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 429.0K

$22.89 MYR 93.5

4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$37.46 MYR 153

163.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.3K

$5.80 MYR 23.69

9.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

$3.51 MYR 14.35

14.25%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$271 MYR 1,105

9.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 118.8M

$9,331 MYR 38.1K

-29.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 961.1K

$60.5 MYR 247

-11.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 685.7K

$36.99 MYR 151

3.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$84.6 MYR 346

4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$78.9 MYR 322

-2.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.3M

$380 MYR 1,550

168.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.2M

$268 MYR 1,093

154.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.4M

$634 MYR 2,588

447.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.6M

$464 MYR 1,895

350.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.1M

$2,086 MYR 8,518

30.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.3M

$1,136 MYR 4,637

102.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 2.9M

$1,861 MYR 7,598

-91.20%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $380 in Batu Kawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batu Kawan pays 1037% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Batu Kawan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 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 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1037% 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $380 in Batu Kawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $918 in Batu Kawan – a 52% 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 $918 in Batu Kawan versus $1,392 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 52% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.