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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $919 in Butterworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,372 in Butterworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,825 in Butterworth, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 49% more than Butterworth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Butterworth is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$3.59 MYR 14.70

-4.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$20.01 MYR 81.9

81.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$4.59 MYR 18.79

24.40%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$2.97 MYR 12.16

-10.10%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.78 MYR 3.21

124.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.37 MYR 1.50

135.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$4.26 MYR 17.43

-30.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$4.30 MYR 17.59

5.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$2.20 MYR 9.01

-26.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.05 MYR 4.31

121.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.69 MYR 6.91

-34.32%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$2.22 MYR 9.09

-0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$13.33 MYR 54.6

32.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$4.44 MYR 18.16

-7.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$8.72 MYR 35.69

39.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$2.80 MYR 11.45

32.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.66 MYR 6.80

-4.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$2.36 MYR 9.65

-3.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$1.42 MYR 5.79

37.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.11 MYR 4.54

72.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.14 MYR 4.68

104.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.11 MYR 4.53

-9.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.54 MYR 2.21

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$4.44 MYR 18.16

-49.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$19.28 MYR 78.9

19.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$2.89 MYR 11.84

-16.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$4.03 MYR 16.49

-25.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.66 MYR 2.70

-59.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

$13.82 MYR 56.6

-35.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$1.21 MYR 4.95

-60.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$0.38 MYR 1.55

13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$4.78 MYR 19.58

17.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.77 MYR 3.16

3.90%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$41.6K MYR 170.4K

-40.07%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$35.2K MYR 144.2K

-10.00%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$37.38 MYR 153

117.92%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$9.18 MYR 37.59

-29.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$25.57 MYR 105

-26.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$35.34 MYR 145

60.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$6.77 MYR 27.70

176.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$5.29 MYR 21.64

-14.18%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$299 MYR 1,222

60.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$10.8K MYR 44.2K

-47.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$61.3 MYR 251

-25.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$35.44 MYR 145

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$82.7 MYR 339

-2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$69.7 MYR 285

12.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$418 MYR 1,712

166.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$352 MYR 1,440

98.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$738 MYR 3,020

392.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$494 MYR 2,021

251.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

$2,040 MYR 8,351

36.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

$1,102 MYR 4,510

107.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.2

228.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $418 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $20.00 in Butterworth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $255 – 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: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $919 in Butterworth – roughly 49% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,378 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 $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $919 in Butterworth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 54% 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 $919, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $919 in Butterworth to $1,368 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.