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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,146 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,560 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,974 in Cheras, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 20% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Cheras is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$3.73 MYR 15.06

-11.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$24.21 MYR 97.8

61.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$4.84 MYR 19.54

16.12%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$2.98 MYR 12.04

-11.41%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$0.93 MYR 3.76

69.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.52 MYR 2.11

36.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

$4.64 MYR 18.76

-41.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

$6.20 MYR 25.04

-30.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$1.95 MYR 7.89

-21.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$1.08 MYR 4.38

112.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$1.51 MYR 6.11

-31.79%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$1.85 MYR 7.46

14.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$18.13 MYR 73.3

-4.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$4.66 MYR 18.82

-13.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

$10.93 MYR 44.16

13.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$3.43 MYR 13.87

7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.95 MYR 7.88

-16.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$2.65 MYR 10.70

-14.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$1.65 MYR 6.65

20.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$2.11 MYR 8.51

-13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$1.74 MYR 7.02

29.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$1.31 MYR 5.31

-20.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.50 MYR 2.04

12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$4.17 MYR 16.85

-46.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

$14.06 MYR 56.8

65.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

$2.73 MYR 11.01

-12.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

$3.00 MYR 12.10

-4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$0.71 MYR 2.87

-64.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

$12.33 MYR 49.81

-41.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$1.26 MYR 5.10

-63.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$0.36 MYR 1.45

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$9.17 MYR 37.03

-37.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.72 MYR 2.91

5.56%

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

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$41.4K MYR 167.2K

-40.64%

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

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$34.7K MYR 140.1K

-10.50%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$48.32 MYR 195

70.05%

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

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$11.27 MYR 45.55

-43.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$28.01 MYR 113

-33.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$51.8 MYR 209

8.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$4.80 MYR 19.39

-11.25%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$161 MYR 651

203.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$4,468 MYR 18.0K

29.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$65.6 MYR 265

-29.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$29.59 MYR 120

21.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$82.7 MYR 334

-3.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$87.5 MYR 354

-7.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$974 MYR 3,935

17.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$476 MYR 1,921

45.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$726 MYR 2,933

386.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$484 MYR 1,957

252.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$1,170 MYR 4,727

-85.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.06

239.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Cheras: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $974 in Cheras. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 591% higher in Cheras, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $24.00 in Cheras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $271 – making Cheras 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 Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,718 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 8% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $24.00 in Cheras. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $1,146, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheras – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cheras. 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.