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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 102% more expensive than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Kuala Terengganu is 48% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.41 MYR 9.87

43.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$22.12 MYR 90.5

46.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$4.58 MYR 18.72

5.68%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.92 MYR 11.96

-5.82%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.48 MYR 1.96

187.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.27 MYR 1.11

177.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$3.60 MYR 14.71

-16.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$5.00 MYR 20.45

-23.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.55 MYR 6.33

12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.96 MYR 3.91

156.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.31 MYR 5.35

-10.69%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$2.12 MYR 8.67

14.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$15.02 MYR 61.4

-3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$4.43 MYR 18.12

-1.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$9.49 MYR 38.80

26.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.90 MYR 11.85

28.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.50 MYR 6.15

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$2.52 MYR 10.31

8.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.42 MYR 5.82

57.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.18 MYR 4.82

62.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.27 MYR 5.20

79.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.03 MYR 4.22

2.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.52 MYR 2.15

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.31 MYR 17.61

-23.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$18.63 MYR 76.2

24.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.83 MYR 11.59

-1.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$3.02 MYR 12.34

-9.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-63.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$11.55 MYR 47.23

-29.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-58.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.98 MYR 4.02

-57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$5.96 MYR 24.38

4.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.49 MYR 2.02

65.31%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

-23.67%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

2.75%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$43.18 MYR 177

81.45%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$8.96 MYR 36.63

-54.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$29.00 MYR 119

-16.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$37.41 MYR 153

163.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$5.73 MYR 23.45

10.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$4.85 MYR 19.82

-17.73%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$187 MYR 763

63.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

-2.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$61.3 MYR 251

-11.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$27.14 MYR 111

39.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$73.5 MYR 301

18.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$50.8 MYR 208

50.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$200 MYR 820

394.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$116 MYR 474

480.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$648 MYR 2,651

420.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$273 MYR 1,116

651.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$2,050 MYR 8,383

36.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,138 MYR 4,653

95.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$490 MYR 2,003

-65.90%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Terengganu pays 193% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $249 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 102% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $696 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 193% lower in Kuala Terengganu. 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: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 42% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,408 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 102% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.