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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $954 in Kemaman, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,407 in Kemaman, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,860 in Kemaman, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 51% more than Kemaman, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Kemaman is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$2.62 MYR 10.35
36.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$14.31 MYR 56.5
127.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$3.83 MYR 15.14
32.38%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$2.31 MYR 9.12
22.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$0.49 MYR 1.92
173.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.36 MYR 1.44
91.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$4.17 MYR 16.49
-28.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$5.32 MYR 21.01
-27.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.91 MYR 7.53
-8.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.01 MYR 4.00
151.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$0.98 MYR 3.86
21.43%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$1.11 MYR 4.38
118.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$14.41 MYR 56.9
1.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$3.70 MYR 14.60
12.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$9.41 MYR 37.17
26.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$3.86 MYR 15.23
-4.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.71 MYR 6.74
-5.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$3.42 MYR 13.50
-21.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$2.55 MYR 10.09
-8.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$1.76 MYR 6.97
8.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.03 MYR 4.07
112.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.13 MYR 4.45
-6.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.46 MYR 1.81
56.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$4.35 MYR 17.18
-28.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$20.31 MYR 80.2
15.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$4.22 MYR 16.68
-35.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$5.39 MYR 21.29
-46.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.70 MYR 2.76
-58.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$11.56 MYR 45.68
-29.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$1.21 MYR 4.77
-62.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.11 MYR 4.37
-62.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$4.24 MYR 16.76
45.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$0.50 MYR 1.96
68.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$43.8K MYR 172.8K
-40.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$31.7K MYR 125.1K
2.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$73.1 MYR 289
7.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$9.97 MYR 39.38
-60.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$28.42 MYR 112
-14.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$37.18 MYR 147
159.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$6.03 MYR 23.83
5.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$5.61 MYR 22.16
-27.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$116 MYR 456
162.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$4,396 MYR 17.4K
48.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$111 MYR 438
-51.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$27.36 MYR 108
38.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$74.2 MYR 293
16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$79.6 MYR 314
-0.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$393 MYR 1,551
157.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$272 MYR 1,073
148.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$654 MYR 2,583
418.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$471 MYR 1,861
345.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,799 MYR 7,107
65.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$881 MYR 3,481
165.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kemaman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.96
235.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kemaman: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $393 in Kemaman. 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 $14.00 in Kemaman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $273 – making Kemaman 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 Kemaman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kemaman cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,431 in Kemaman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kemaman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Kemaman?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $14.00 in Kemaman. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Kemaman?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $954 in Kemaman. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Kemaman?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kemaman, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Kemaman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Kemaman more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kemaman – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Kemaman?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kemaman. 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.

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