Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kedah

For one person, living is cheaper in Kedah: $877 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Kedah, Malaysia
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Kedah
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$877
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Kedah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Kedah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $877 in Kedah.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Kedah $877

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,399 in Kedah.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Kedah $1,399

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,920 in Kedah.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Kedah $1,920

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 54% more expensive than in Kedah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$3.72 MYR 15.08
-10.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
$12.32 MYR 50.0
189.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
$4.56 MYR 18.51
21.27%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$2.91 MYR 11.82
-6.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
$0.77 MYR 3.13
120.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.39 MYR 1.59
94.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$4.24 MYR 17.18
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
$4.36 MYR 17.67
0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$1.88 MYR 7.63
-20.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$1.06 MYR 4.30
115.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.72 MYR 6.96
-30.81%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$2.19 MYR 8.87
-6.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
$13.55 MYR 55.0
30.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
$4.34 MYR 17.62
-8.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
$8.84 MYR 35.87
37.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
$2.94 MYR 11.93
24.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.63 MYR 6.63
-6.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$2.75 MYR 11.16
-18.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$1.45 MYR 5.90
35.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$1.10 MYR 4.46
68.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$1.09 MYR 4.41
122.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.13 MYR 4.59
-12.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,303
$0.57 MYR 2.33
-10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$4.62 MYR 18.75
-51.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
$18.76 MYR 76.1
18.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$2.98 MYR 12.10
-24.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
$5.33 MYR 21.63
-44.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,548
$0.76 MYR 3.09
-67.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
$12.85 MYR 52.1
-39.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,964
$1.66 MYR 6.73
-73.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,793
$0.38 MYR 1.53
13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
$7.29 MYR 29.57
-25.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$0.60 MYR 2.45
36.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
$45.6K MYR 185.1K
-47.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
$35.8K MYR 145.4K
-11.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$36.47 MYR 148
116.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
$9.66 MYR 39.18
-33.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
$29.48 MYR 120
-36.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
$34.63 MYR 140
42.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
$6.85 MYR 27.80
157.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
$4.79 MYR 19.45
-10.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$388 MYR 1,573
26.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
$10.7K MYR 43.2K
-46.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
$58.9 MYR 239
-24.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
$34.76 MYR 141
0.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$81.6 MYR 331
-2.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$70.7 MYR 287
12.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$358 MYR 1,452
214.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$258 MYR 1,047
160.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
$712 MYR 2,890
400.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
$607 MYR 2,461
184.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$1,930 MYR 7,831
41.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$1,258 MYR 5,102
81.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kedah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$1,339 MYR 5,433
-87.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.04
241.09%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kedah: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Kedah
$258 61.6% $414
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Kedah
$257 11% $32
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Kedah
$113 4.8% $5.2
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Kedah
$111 2.9% $3.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Kedah
$76 27.4% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Kedah
$44 23.8% $14
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Kedah
$19 70.2% $8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $358 in Kedah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays about 8.2 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $12 in Kedah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $257 per month, with Kedah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇾 Kedah
🕒 Local time
08:28 8:28 AM
08:28 8:28 AM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
417,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.06 MYR (1 MYR = 0.246 USD). 1 EUR = 4.53 MYR (1 MYR = 0.221 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Kedah 2,320 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Kedah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kedah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Kedah?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $877 in Kedah, so Kedah is about 35% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 88% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kedah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $358 in Kedah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Kedah?
Childcare runs $491 in Ubud, Bali versus $388 in Kedah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $877 in Kedah versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Kedah but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kedah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Kedah?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Kedah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kedah are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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