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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $848 in Butterworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,302 in Butterworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,756 in Butterworth, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 66% more than Butterworth, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Butterworth is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$3.01 MYR 12.20

18.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$21.47 MYR 87.1

51.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.81 MYR 19.49

1.04%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.84 MYR 11.53

-3.17%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.69 MYR 2.78

91.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.36 MYR 1.47

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$4.21 MYR 17.08

-30.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$4.34 MYR 17.60

-12.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.89 MYR 7.68

-9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.04 MYR 4.20

137.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.73 MYR 7.00

-30.64%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.12 MYR 8.59

15.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$14.32 MYR 58.1

0.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.61 MYR 18.71

-6.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$9.95 MYR 40.36

22.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.78 MYR 11.28

32.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.44 MYR 5.83

7.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.62 MYR 10.61

6.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.45 MYR 5.88

60.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.18 MYR 4.80

66.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.21 MYR 4.92

90.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.95 MYR 3.84

11.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.45 MYR 1.83

62.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$4.25 MYR 17.25

-22.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$19.51 MYR 79.1

16.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.72 MYR 11.03

3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.42 MYR 13.86

-18.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.70 MYR 2.83

-58.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$11.97 MYR 48.55

-32.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.68 MYR 2.75

-33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$4.82 MYR 19.53

29.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.50 MYR 2.01

70.00%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$33.2K MYR 134.7K

-21.77%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$27.6K MYR 112.0K

14.60%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$39.38 MYR 160

105.05%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$10.27 MYR 41.64

-60.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$25.38 MYR 103

-3.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$36.37 MYR 147

168.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$5.93 MYR 24.03

8.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$5.08 MYR 20.59

-20.47%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$240 MYR 971

26.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$6,304 MYR 25.6K

5.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$55.8 MYR 226

-2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$28.30 MYR 115

37.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$60.2 MYR 244

43.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$52.5 MYR 213

46.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$383 MYR 1,553

157.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$269 MYR 1,093

144.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$641 MYR 2,599

425.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$474 MYR 1,921

336.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,978 MYR 8,021

38.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$955 MYR 3,873

133.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $383 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $21.00 in Butterworth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $256 – 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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $848 in Butterworth – roughly 66% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,272 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $848 in Butterworth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% 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 $848, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $848 in Butterworth to $1,404 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.