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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $846 in Butterworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,306 in Butterworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,766 in Butterworth, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 65% more than Butterworth, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Butterworth is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.3K

$3.08 MYR 12.58

15.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 581.4K

$20.93 MYR 85.5

54.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.1K

$4.68 MYR 19.11

7.05%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.8K

$2.85 MYR 11.65

-1.05%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.3K

$0.72 MYR 2.96

87.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.34 MYR 1.38

114.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 52.8K

$4.29 MYR 17.53

-31.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 70.8K

$4.35 MYR 17.78

-9.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

$1.80 MYR 7.36

-1.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

$1.03 MYR 4.21

137.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.67 MYR 6.83

-31.14%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.4K

$2.12 MYR 8.66

13.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 257.8K

$14.62 MYR 59.7

-1.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.3K

$4.71 MYR 19.25

-11.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 216.9K

$9.92 MYR 40.52

21.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

$2.80 MYR 11.43

30.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

$1.47 MYR 6.00

6.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$2.68 MYR 10.96

4.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.52 MYR 6.21

47.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.6K

$1.14 MYR 4.67

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$1.17 MYR 4.77

94.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.90 MYR 3.68

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.45 MYR 1.85

75.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.4K

$4.37 MYR 17.83

-27.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 422.6K

$18.14 MYR 74.1

29.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$2.70 MYR 11.02

7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.6K

$3.47 MYR 14.19

-20.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,796

$0.72 MYR 2.95

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 150.5K

$11.55 MYR 47.16

-27.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,138

$0.68 MYR 2.77

-33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,269

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.2K

$4.62 MYR 18.86

31.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.49 MYR 2.01

75.51%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.3M

$33.5K MYR 136.8K

-20.65%

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

$32.5K Rp 585.6M

$27.6K MYR 112.5K

18.12%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$39.20 MYR 160

101.58%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.6K

$10.29 MYR 42.00

-60.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 429.0K

$25.61 MYR 105

-6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$36.45 MYR 149

171.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.3K

$5.96 MYR 24.33

6.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

$4.93 MYR 20.13

-18.66%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$239 MYR 975

24.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 118.8M

$6,139 MYR 25.1K

7.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 961.1K

$54.5 MYR 222

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 685.7K

$29.06 MYR 119

31.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$60.7 MYR 248

45.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$52.9 MYR 216

44.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.3M

$381 MYR 1,556

167.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.2M

$274 MYR 1,118

148.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.4M

$648 MYR 2,646

435.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.6M

$475 MYR 1,940

339.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.1M

$2,072 MYR 8,459

31.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.3M

$1,150 MYR 4,698

99.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.16

219.23%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $381 in Butterworth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $21.00 in Butterworth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $253 – making Butterworth 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 Butterworth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, $846 in Butterworth – roughly 65% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,268 in Butterworth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $846 in Butterworth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 38% less in Butterworth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Butterworth, where all-in costs run around $846, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Butterworth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $846 in Butterworth to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Butterworth. 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.