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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 101% more expensive than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Kuala Terengganu is 47% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.29 MYR 9.08

55.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$21.99 MYR 87.2

48.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$4.36 MYR 17.30

13.53%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-8.75%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.44 MYR 1.75

204.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.27 MYR 1.07

159.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$3.57 MYR 14.16

-18.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$4.86 MYR 19.27

-18.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.54 MYR 6.12

17.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.96 MYR 3.79

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.25 MYR 4.95

-7.20%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.05 MYR 8.11

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$15.08 MYR 59.8

-2.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$4.40 MYR 17.46

-1.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$9.68 MYR 38.38

25.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.98 MYR 11.83

28.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.45 MYR 5.76

7.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$2.57 MYR 10.20

10.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.38 MYR 5.47

68.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.24 MYR 4.91

54.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.33 MYR 5.26

65.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.05 MYR 4.16

-3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.52 MYR 2.07

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$4.36 MYR 17.29

-23.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$18.78 MYR 74.5

26.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$2.82 MYR 11.19

-1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$3.01 MYR 11.93

-4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.74 MYR 2.95

-63.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$11.98 MYR 47.50

-32.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.20 MYR 4.77

-61.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.99 MYR 3.91

-54.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$6.05 MYR 23.99

0.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.50 MYR 2.00

58.00%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

-26.11%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

0.32%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$43.46 MYR 172

83.94%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$9.35 MYR 37.07

-56.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$29.66 MYR 118

-20.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$36.44 MYR 144

170.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$5.79 MYR 22.96

14.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$4.98 MYR 19.74

-16.67%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$184 MYR 730

65.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

-6.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$60.9 MYR 242

-8.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$26.86 MYR 106

42.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$74.2 MYR 294

19.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$51.1 MYR 202

52.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$199 MYR 787

406.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$120 MYR 476

462.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$648 MYR 2,571

430.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$273 MYR 1,084

646.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,973 MYR 7,823

44.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$978 MYR 3,879

131.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$505 MYR 2,001

-67.25%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Terengganu pays 205% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $250 per month, with Kuala Terengganu cheaper across the board.

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 Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Kuala Terengganu differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $706 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Kuala Terengganu earns 205% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 49% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kuala Terengganu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.