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: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,379 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,826 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 47% more expensive than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Kuala Terengganu is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$2.53 MYR 10.35

35.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$23.42 MYR 95.9

55.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$5.06 MYR 20.70

12.85%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$2.74 MYR 11.21

-2.55%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.47 MYR 1.90

272.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.28 MYR 1.15

210.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$3.77 MYR 15.45

-21.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$4.50 MYR 18.40

0.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.05 MYR 4.30

121.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.52 MYR 6.22

-26.97%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$1.91 MYR 7.84

15.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$11.50 MYR 47.08

53.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$4.52 MYR 18.51

-9.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$10.20 MYR 41.73

19.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$3.49 MYR 14.27

6.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.59 MYR 6.52

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$2.42 MYR 9.92

-5.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$1.68 MYR 6.89

16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.27 MYR 5.20

50.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.32 MYR 5.41

76.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.18 MYR 4.81

-14.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.57 MYR 2.32

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$4.53 MYR 18.56

-50.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$17.43 MYR 71.4

32.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$2.93 MYR 11.99

-17.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$3.49 MYR 14.30

-14.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.77 MYR 3.15

-64.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

$10.74 MYR 43.95

-16.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$1.12 MYR 4.58

-57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$0.45 MYR 1.85

-4.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$8.33 MYR 34.08

-32.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.82 MYR 3.35

-2.44%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$46.2K MYR 189.1K

-46.02%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$34.7K MYR 141.9K

-8.54%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$53.7 MYR 220

51.78%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$9.08 MYR 37.17

-28.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$30.68 MYR 126

-38.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$42.43 MYR 174

34.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$6.89 MYR 28.22

171.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$4.51 MYR 18.45

0.67%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$175 MYR 717

174.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$5,228 MYR 21.4K

9.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$64.9 MYR 266

-29.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$30.80 MYR 126

16.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$79.6 MYR 326

1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$67.4 MYR 276

16.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$454 MYR 1,857

145.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$273 MYR 1,118

155.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$681 MYR 2,787

434.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$551 MYR 2,256

215.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

$2,147 MYR 8,787

29.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

$1,004 MYR 4,109

128.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$494 MYR 2,021

-65.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.2

228.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $454 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Terengganu pays 194% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 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 47% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $932 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 194% 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: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $454 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 20% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $932 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,368 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 47% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.