Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kuala Lipis Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kuala Lipis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $864 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,311 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,757 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 64% more than Kuala Lipis, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Kuala Lipis is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.57 MYR 10.19

38.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$23.19 MYR 92.0

41.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$3.69 MYR 14.62

34.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.69 MYR 6.71

60.36%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.34 MYR 1.33

294.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.36 MYR 1.44

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$4.22 MYR 16.74

-30.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$5.27 MYR 20.89

-24.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.28 MYR 5.07

41.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.58 MYR 2.30

334.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.68 MYR 2.70

70.59%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.37 MYR 5.43

79.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$22.60 MYR 89.6

-34.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$2.55 MYR 10.10

69.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$7.52 MYR 29.81

61.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$4.00 MYR 15.84

-4.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.78 MYR 7.07

-12.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$3.45 MYR 13.68

-17.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$2.61 MYR 10.34

-10.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.75 MYR 6.94

9.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.67 MYR 2.64

228.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.07 MYR 4.24

-5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.45 MYR 1.78

73.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$4.29 MYR 17.01

-22.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$20.51 MYR 81.3

15.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$4.44 MYR 17.59

-37.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$5.43 MYR 21.53

-47.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.68 MYR 2.68

-60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$11.62 MYR 46.07

-30.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.17 MYR 4.62

-60.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.13 MYR 4.48

-60.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$4.27 MYR 16.95

42.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.50 MYR 1.99

58.00%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$43.3K MYR 171.7K

-39.60%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$13.0K MYR 51.6K

146.61%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$28.80 MYR 114

177.57%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$9.45 MYR 37.49

-57.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$20.96 MYR 83.1

12.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$37.45 MYR 149

163.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$5.88 MYR 23.29

12.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$5.79 MYR 22.97

-28.32%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$118 MYR 468

157.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$4,362 MYR 17.3K

51.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$23.51 MYR 93.2

136.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$27.45 MYR 109

39.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$74.4 MYR 295

19.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$71.9 MYR 285

8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$385 MYR 1,528

161.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$269 MYR 1,065

151.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$638 MYR 2,528

439.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$471 MYR 1,869

332.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,853 MYR 7,347

53.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$946 MYR 3,753

139.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$450 MYR 1,783

-63.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

3.96

235.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lipis: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $385 in Kuala Lipis. 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 172% higher in Kuala Lipis, 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 $23.00 in Kuala Lipis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $278 – making Kuala Lipis 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 Kuala Lipis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,296 in Kuala Lipis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $864 in Kuala Lipis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 45% less in Kuala Lipis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuala Lipis, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Kuala Lipis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuala Lipis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kuala Lipis. 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.