Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kota Bharu Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kota Bharu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $654 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,135 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,616 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 115% more than Kota Bharu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Kota Bharu is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$1.73 MYR 7.03

106.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$21.23 MYR 86.1

53.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.15 MYR 16.83

17.11%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.43 MYR 9.84

13.17%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.48 MYR 1.95

175.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.25 MYR 1.01

180.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-33.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$4.30 MYR 17.43

-11.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.55 MYR 6.30

10.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.80 MYR 3.25

208.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.78 MYR 3.16

53.85%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.55 MYR 6.27

57.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$15.28 MYR 62.0

-5.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$2.90 MYR 11.75

48.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$6.16 MYR 24.99

98.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.45 MYR 5.86

153.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.43 MYR 5.79

8.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.40 MYR 5.67

99.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.85 MYR 3.44

174.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.82 MYR 3.32

140.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.15 MYR 4.67

100.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.91 MYR 3.68

16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.43 MYR 1.76

69.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.96 MYR 12.02

10.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$19.42 MYR 78.8

17.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.43 MYR 5.79

96.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.54 MYR 14.35

-21.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.69 MYR 2.81

-57.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$11.59 MYR 46.99

-30.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.68 MYR 2.75

-33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.53 MYR 2.15

-15.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$3.61 MYR 14.65

72.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.50 MYR 2.03

70.00%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$30.7K MYR 124.3K

-15.27%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$27.6K MYR 112.0K

14.60%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$38.47 MYR 156

109.90%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$8.49 MYR 34.42

-52.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$26.12 MYR 106

-6.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$37.20 MYR 151

162.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$5.79 MYR 23.48

11.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$4.13 MYR 16.73

-2.18%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$116 MYR 470

162.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$6,186 MYR 25.1K

7.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$53.5 MYR 217

1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$19.18 MYR 77.8

102.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$60.9 MYR 247

41.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$53.3 MYR 216

43.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$255 MYR 1,032

287.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$140 MYR 567

370.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$846 MYR 3,430

298.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$474 MYR 1,921

336.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$303 MYR 1,228

-46.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.16

219.23%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 in Kota Bharu. 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 85% higher in Kota Bharu, 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 $21.00 in Kota Bharu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $204 – making Kota Bharu 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 Kota Bharu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 115% more than Kota Bharu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $981 in Kota Bharu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 44% less in Kota Bharu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $116 in Kota Bharu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Bharu, where all-in costs run around $654, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Kota Bharu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kota Bharu costs $654 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kota Bharu. 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.