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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $709 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,061 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,412 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 95% more than Kota Bharu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Kota Bharu is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$2.19 MYR 8.84

51.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$15.50 MYR 62.6

152.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$5.01 MYR 20.24

12.18%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$2.19 MYR 8.84

20.55%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$0.51 MYR 2.05

209.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.28 MYR 1.14

153.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

$2.44 MYR 9.84

11.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

$4.40 MYR 17.77

-1.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$1.56 MYR 6.28

-1.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$0.92 MYR 3.70

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$0.84 MYR 3.39

22.62%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$1.55 MYR 6.24

36.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$15.48 MYR 62.6

11.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$3.12 MYR 12.62

29.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

$6.52 MYR 26.34

90.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$2.40 MYR 9.70

54.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.46 MYR 5.90

10.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$2.29 MYR 9.24

-0.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$1.12 MYR 4.54

77.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$0.88 MYR 3.57

107.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$0.80 MYR 3.22

181.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$0.71 MYR 2.86

46.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.45 MYR 1.84

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$3.38 MYR 13.64

-34.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

$21.56 MYR 87.1

7.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

$2.50 MYR 10.11

-4.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

$3.61 MYR 14.59

-20.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$0.76 MYR 3.09

-67.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

$12.55 MYR 50.7

-42.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$1.26 MYR 5.11

-63.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$0.51 MYR 2.05

-9.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$3.63 MYR 14.68

57.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.48 MYR 1.93

58.33%

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

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$31.6K MYR 127.5K

-22.18%

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

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$28.5K MYR 115.2K

8.78%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$51.0 MYR 206

61.21%

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

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$8.40 MYR 33.94

-24.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$27.51 MYR 111

-32.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$49.56 MYR 200

13.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$4.30 MYR 17.39

-0.93%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$124 MYR 500

295.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$5,037 MYR 20.4K

15.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$54.1 MYR 219

-14.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$19.56 MYR 79.0

83.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$74.0 MYR 299

7.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$87.8 MYR 355

-7.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$244 MYR 985

369.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$126 MYR 507

451.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$681 MYR 2,753

418.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$224 MYR 906

662.49%

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

$296 MYR 1,197

-42.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.43

211.06%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $244 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 75% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Kota Bharu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $227 – 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 95% 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 $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,063 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 75% less in Kota Bharu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Ubud, Bali and $124 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 $709, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. 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 $709 versus $1,379 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.