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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $954 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,403 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,852 in Kota Damansara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 43% more than Kota Damansara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Kota Damansara is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$5.07 MYR 20.74

-32.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$19.76 MYR 80.9

83.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$4.89 MYR 20.02

16.77%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$2.63 MYR 10.74

1.52%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.97 MYR 3.98

80.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.48 MYR 1.96

81.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$2.43 MYR 9.96

21.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$4.30 MYR 17.60

5.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$2.19 MYR 8.95

-26.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.12 MYR 4.58

108.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-34.71%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-14.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$15.67 MYR 64.1

12.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$4.90 MYR 20.06

-16.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$9.51 MYR 38.91

28.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$2.42 MYR 9.92

53.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.45 MYR 5.94

9.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$2.32 MYR 9.48

-1.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$1.21 MYR 4.96

61.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$0.88 MYR 3.59

117.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.79 MYR 3.22

194.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$0.72 MYR 2.93

40.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.65 MYR 2.65

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$4.49 MYR 18.38

-50.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$19.07 MYR 78.0

20.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$3.21 MYR 13.16

-24.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$4.40 MYR 18.01

-31.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.68 MYR 2.77

-60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

$12.84 MYR 52.5

-30.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$1.21 MYR 4.97

-60.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-10.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$5.00 MYR 20.48

12.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.77 MYR 3.13

3.90%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$42.7K MYR 174.8K

-41.59%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$27.7K MYR 113.5K

14.31%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$49.94 MYR 204

63.12%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$8.23 MYR 33.69

-21.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$25.81 MYR 106

-27.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$35.18 MYR 144

61.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$7.33 MYR 29.99

155.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$4.59 MYR 18.79

-1.09%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$173 MYR 710

177.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$4,994 MYR 20.4K

14.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$53.9 MYR 221

-15.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$35.35 MYR 145

1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$74.2 MYR 304

8.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$69.0 MYR 282

14.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$361 MYR 1,477

208.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$289 MYR 1,181

141.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$700 MYR 2,866

419.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$536 MYR 2,195

223.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

$2,039 MYR 8,345

36.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

$1,111 MYR 4,548

106.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$858 MYR 3,513

-80.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.2

228.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kota Damansara: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $361 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 411% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $20.00 in Kota Damansara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $264 – 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 43% more than Kota Damansara, 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,431 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 43% less in Kota Damansara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $173 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 $954, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $954 versus $1,368 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.