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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $927 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,372 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,818 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 50% more than Kota Damansara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Kota Damansara is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$3.52 MYR 14.36
1.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$19.07 MYR 77.9
69.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$4.61 MYR 18.83
8.68%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$2.92 MYR 11.94
-3.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.79 MYR 3.24
70.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.49 MYR 1.99
48.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$4.19 MYR 17.12
-30.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$5.91 MYR 24.11
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.83 MYR 7.46
-2.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.94 MYR 3.85
160.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.44 MYR 5.87
-20.14%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$1.80 MYR 7.37
33.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$14.50 MYR 59.2
-1.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$4.67 MYR 19.05
-10.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$6.76 MYR 27.59
78.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$2.87 MYR 11.73
26.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.46 MYR 5.95
7.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$2.65 MYR 10.81
5.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.46 MYR 5.95
53.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$1.45 MYR 5.92
36.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.41 MYR 5.75
61.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$1.18 MYR 4.80
-11.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.63 MYR 2.55
25.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$4.12 MYR 16.83
-22.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$18.04 MYR 73.7
30.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$2.74 MYR 11.19
5.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$3.84 MYR 15.68
-28.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.74 MYR 3.00
-63.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$11.65 MYR 47.56
-28.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$1.16 MYR 4.72
-61.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$1.03 MYR 4.19
-55.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$4.34 MYR 17.73
39.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$0.51 MYR 2.06
68.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$38.2K MYR 156.0K
-30.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$32.9K MYR 134.4K
-1.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$57.9 MYR 236
36.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$8.99 MYR 36.71
-54.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$31.39 MYR 128
-24.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$36.28 MYR 148
172.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$6.02 MYR 24.58
5.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$5.33 MYR 21.75
-24.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$191 MYR 781
55.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$6,966 MYR 28.4K
-5.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$64.7 MYR 264
-17.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$36.60 MYR 149
4.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$85.5 MYR 349
3.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$79.0 MYR 322
-2.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$381 MYR 1,556
167.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$267 MYR 1,089
155.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$644 MYR 2,628
439.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$476 MYR 1,943
339.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$2,076 MYR 8,476
31.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$1,153 MYR 4,706
99.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kota Damansara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$865 MYR 3,531
-81.07%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kota Damansara: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $381 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 428% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Kota Damansara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $246 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Kota Damansara?
Ubud, Bali costs about 50% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Kota Damansara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,390 in Kota Damansara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Kota Damansara?
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.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Kota Damansara?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Kota Damansara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kota Damansara?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $191 in Kota Damansara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Kota Damansara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Damansara, where all-in costs run around $927, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Kota Damansara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Kota Damansara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kota Damansara costs $927 versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Kota Damansara?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Kota Damansara?
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.

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