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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $839 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,272 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,704 in Cheras, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 71% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Cheras is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

$3.62 MYR 14.30

-1.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

$18.67 MYR 73.8

74.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

$4.58 MYR 18.07

10.70%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-1.74%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$0.84 MYR 3.30

59.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.46 MYR 1.81

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

$4.66 MYR 18.41

-35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

$6.48 MYR 25.60

-40.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-7.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

$0.94 MYR 3.71

170.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-3.25%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

$2.15 MYR 8.51

13.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

$15.54 MYR 61.4

-5.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

$3.58 MYR 14.16

16.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

$7.54 MYR 29.79

58.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

$2.65 MYR 10.46

39.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-7.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

$2.56 MYR 10.12

5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

$1.25 MYR 4.94

86.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

$1.53 MYR 6.06

24.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

$1.33 MYR 5.26

64.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.88 MYR 3.48

20.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.56 MYR 2.23

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

$4.22 MYR 16.66

-25.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

$14.51 MYR 57.3

61.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

$2.72 MYR 10.76

0.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

$3.95 MYR 15.58

-27.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

$0.46 MYR 1.81

-36.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

$11.83 MYR 46.73

-30.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

$1.02 MYR 4.01

-55.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

$1.00 MYR 3.95

-58.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

$9.42 MYR 37.22

-34.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$0.46 MYR 1.84

82.61%

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

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

$49.6K MYR 195.7K

-47.04%

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

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

$31.6K MYR 124.8K

2.79%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$40.52 MYR 160

93.53%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

$9.18 MYR 36.27

-56.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

$30.41 MYR 120

-19.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$41.09 MYR 162

134.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

$5.87 MYR 23.19

8.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

$5.08 MYR 20.06

-20.47%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$187 MYR 738

61.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

$6,933 MYR 27.4K

-5.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

$66.0 MYR 261

-18.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

$34.18 MYR 135

11.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$74.2 MYR 293

16.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$48.12 MYR 190

63.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$377 MYR 1,489

168.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

$231 MYR 913

191.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

$651 MYR 2,571

420.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

$429 MYR 1,693

389.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,233 MYR 4,871

-85.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.07

226.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Cheras: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $377 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 612% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Cheras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $237 – 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 71%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,259 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 25% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 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 $839, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.