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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $930 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,379 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,827 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 55% more than Kota Damansara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Kota Damansara is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$3.57 MYR 14.09

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$18.97 MYR 74.9

71.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$4.61 MYR 18.20

9.98%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$3.00 MYR 11.86

-5.67%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.80 MYR 3.14

67.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.49 MYR 1.94

40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$4.14 MYR 16.35

-27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$5.80 MYR 22.91

-33.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.89 MYR 7.47

-7.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.98 MYR 3.88

159.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.48 MYR 5.84

-19.59%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.84 MYR 7.27

32.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$14.86 MYR 58.7

-1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$4.62 MYR 18.25

-9.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$6.66 MYR 26.29

79.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.98 MYR 11.76

23.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.51 MYR 5.97

6.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.61 MYR 10.32

3.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.47 MYR 5.83

58.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.51 MYR 5.95

26.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.35 MYR 5.33

62.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.17 MYR 4.64

-9.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.63 MYR 2.47

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$4.21 MYR 16.64

-25.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$14.39 MYR 56.9

63.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$2.87 MYR 11.33

-4.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.69 MYR 14.59

-21.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.74 MYR 2.92

-60.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$11.92 MYR 47.07

-31.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.19 MYR 4.72

-62.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.99 MYR 3.92

-57.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$4.17 MYR 16.48

47.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.47 MYR 1.85

78.72%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$38.1K MYR 150.5K

-31.14%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$32.1K MYR 126.8K

1.14%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$58.6 MYR 231

33.94%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$8.92 MYR 35.22

-55.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$31.20 MYR 123

-21.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$36.95 MYR 146

161.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$5.95 MYR 23.48

6.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$5.33 MYR 21.06

-24.20%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$189 MYR 748

59.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$6,982 MYR 27.6K

-6.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$65.6 MYR 259

-17.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$36.90 MYR 146

2.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$83.4 MYR 329

4.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$81.5 MYR 322

-3.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$391 MYR 1,546

158.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$274 MYR 1,084

145.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$639 MYR 2,524

430.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$480 MYR 1,897

336.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,756 MYR 6,937

69.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$898 MYR 3,548

160.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$890 MYR 3,516

-80.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.07

226.29%

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 Damansara: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $391 in Kota Damansara. 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 414% higher in Kota Damansara, 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 $19.00 in Kota Damansara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $241 – making Kota Damansara 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 Damansara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 55% more than Kota Damansara, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,395 in Kota Damansara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 46% less in Kota Damansara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $189 in Kota Damansara. 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 Damansara, where all-in costs run around $930, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Kota Damansara 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 Damansara costs $930 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 Damansara. 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.