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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $836 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,289 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,742 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 68% more than Kuala Lipis, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Kuala Lipis is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.66 MYR 10.86

29.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$23.35 MYR 95.5

38.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$3.68 MYR 15.05

31.52%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.63 MYR 6.66

68.71%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.36 MYR 1.48

283.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.34 MYR 1.38

120.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$4.27 MYR 17.46

-29.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$5.38 MYR 22.02

-28.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.32 MYR 5.38

31.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.61 MYR 2.49

303.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.65 MYR 2.65

80.00%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.38 MYR 5.65

76.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$22.52 MYR 92.1

-35.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$2.57 MYR 10.52

69.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$7.68 MYR 31.40

55.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$3.93 MYR 16.08

-5.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.78 MYR 7.30

-8.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$3.42 MYR 13.97

-19.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$2.58 MYR 10.54

-13.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.69 MYR 6.92

13.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.68 MYR 2.76

235.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.11 MYR 4.55

-4.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.45 MYR 1.84

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.27 MYR 17.46

-22.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$19.54 MYR 79.9

18.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$4.26 MYR 17.43

-34.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$5.35 MYR 21.90

-48.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.73 MYR 3.00

-63.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$11.54 MYR 47.22

-29.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.16 MYR 4.73

-58.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$1.15 MYR 4.68

-63.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$4.34 MYR 17.77

43.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.49 MYR 2.01

65.31%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$43.7K MYR 178.9K

-39.15%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$13.4K MYR 54.7K

140.72%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$28.60 MYR 117

173.95%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$9.94 MYR 40.64

-59.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$20.66 MYR 84.5

17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$36.34 MYR 149

171.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$5.80 MYR 23.74

9.31%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$5.77 MYR 23.58

-30.85%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$118 MYR 483

158.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$4,334 MYR 17.7K

53.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$23.09 MYR 94.4

134.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$27.82 MYR 114

35.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$76.4 MYR 312

13.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$72.0 MYR 295

6.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$389 MYR 1,591

154.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$267 MYR 1,094

151.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$644 MYR 2,635

423.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$476 MYR 1,947

330.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$2,102 MYR 8,599

33.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,173 MYR 4,797

89.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$447 MYR 1,830

-62.68%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lipis: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $389 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 168% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $23.00 in Kuala Lipis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $275 – 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 68%, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,253 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $836 in Kuala Lipis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% 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 $836, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.