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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $889 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,309 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,729 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 55% more than Kuala Lipis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Kuala Lipis is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$3.79 MYR 15.42

-12.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$24.42 MYR 99.3

46.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$4.03 MYR 16.40

39.70%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$3.03 MYR 12.32

-6.93%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.39 MYR 1.57

348.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.44 MYR 1.80

81.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$3.30 MYR 13.42

-7.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.70 MYR 23.19

-24.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.39 MYR 5.65

15.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.59 MYR 2.41

284.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.67 MYR 2.71

74.63%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.47 MYR 5.97

47.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$10.07 MYR 40.95

75.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$2.77 MYR 11.25

46.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$7.88 MYR 32.06

54.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$3.63 MYR 14.78

-0.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.91 MYR 7.76

-14.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$2.81 MYR 11.43

-17.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.84 MYR 7.48

6.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$2.20 MYR 8.94

-16.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.99 MYR 8.08

19.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$1.49 MYR 6.07

-29.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.48 MYR 1.94

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.53 MYR 18.44

-49.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$18.90 MYR 76.9

22.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.70 MYR 10.98

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$4.52 MYR 18.38

-32.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.73 MYR 2.97

-65.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$12.54 MYR 51.0

-24.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-60.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.35 MYR 1.44

34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$9.24 MYR 37.59

-39.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.53 MYR 2.17

52.83%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$42.3K MYR 172.0K

-40.86%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$14.0K MYR 57.0K

121.54%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$29.33 MYR 119

182.03%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$8.30 MYR 33.77

-21.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$22.33 MYR 90.8

-15.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$40.60 MYR 165

36.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$6.52 MYR 26.54

179.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.07 MYR 20.64

-15.19%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$286 MYR 1,165

72.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$10.5K MYR 42.6K

-43.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$24.84 MYR 101

86.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$29.69 MYR 121

22.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$78.5 MYR 320

2.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$75.3 MYR 306

4.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$421 MYR 1,713

164.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$328 MYR 1,334

111.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$697 MYR 2,835

422.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$486 MYR 1,978

252.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$2,075 MYR 8,443

33.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,120 MYR 4,557

104.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$445 MYR 1,810

-62.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.51

205.54%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lipis: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $421 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 166% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $24.00 in Kuala Lipis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $229 – 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 55%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,334 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 $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $889 in Kuala Lipis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% 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 $889, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.