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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $643 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,124 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,605 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 124% more than Kota Bharu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Kota Bharu is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$1.74 MYR 6.89

105.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$21.18 MYR 83.7

53.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$4.18 MYR 16.53

21.29%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.33 MYR 9.20

21.46%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.45 MYR 1.77

197.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.27 MYR 1.07

155.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$4.26 MYR 16.85

-29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$4.28 MYR 16.90

-10.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.51 MYR 5.95

15.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.81 MYR 3.19

213.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.85 MYR 3.34

40.00%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.47 MYR 5.82

65.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$15.28 MYR 60.4

-4.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$2.88 MYR 11.37

45.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$6.21 MYR 24.51

92.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.40 MYR 5.52

163.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.40 MYR 5.53

15.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.45 MYR 5.72

85.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$0.87 MYR 3.43

167.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.82 MYR 3.22

132.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.20 MYR 4.73

82.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.91 MYR 3.61

16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.44 MYR 1.73

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.98 MYR 11.79

5.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$19.39 MYR 76.6

21.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.42 MYR 5.61

92.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.52 MYR 13.90

-18.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.69 MYR 2.73

-57.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$12.01 MYR 47.45

-31.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.73 MYR 2.90

-38.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.54 MYR 2.14

-22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$3.45 MYR 13.64

78.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.47 MYR 1.84

78.72%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$31.1K MYR 122.8K

-15.56%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$27.3K MYR 107.7K

19.17%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$39.38 MYR 156

99.14%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$8.08 MYR 31.92

-51.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$26.98 MYR 107

-9.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$36.25 MYR 143

166.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$5.81 MYR 22.93

9.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$4.30 MYR 16.98

-6.05%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$119 MYR 470

154.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$6,108 MYR 24.1K

6.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$52.6 MYR 208

2.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$19.07 MYR 75.3

99.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$61.6 MYR 243

40.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$52.0 MYR 205

51.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$262 MYR 1,035

286.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$141 MYR 559

376.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$868 MYR 3,430

290.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$470 MYR 1,856

346.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$302 MYR 1,191

-42.58%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 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 74% 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: $298 vs $203 – 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 124% 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $964 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 47% less in Kota Bharu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $119 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 $643, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $643 versus $1,438 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.