Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kuala Terengganu

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuala Terengganu: $918 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Kuala Terengganu
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Kuala Terengganu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Kuala Terengganu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $918 in Kuala Terengganu.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Kuala Terengganu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,412 in Kuala Terengganu.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Kuala Terengganu $1,412

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,907 in Kuala Terengganu.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Kuala Terengganu $1,907

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 45% more expensive than in Kuala Terengganu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Kuala Terengganu 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 60.9K
$2.51 MYR 10.14
34.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 625.4K
$23.19 MYR 93.8
49.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.6K
$4.79 MYR 19.35
16.28%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$2.72 MYR 11.01
-3.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.49 MYR 1.99
214.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.28 MYR 1.14
128.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
$3.98 MYR 16.09
-32.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 76.9K
$4.59 MYR 18.56
-7.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.71 MYR 6.92
-14.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$1.08 MYR 4.38
112.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$1.47 MYR 5.95
-24.49%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
$2.15 MYR 8.68
-2.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 287.7K
$13.52 MYR 54.7
17.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.1K
$4.49 MYR 18.16
-13.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 205.8K
$9.94 MYR 40.21
14.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
$3.29 MYR 13.29
7.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
$1.66 MYR 6.71
-7.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$2.42 MYR 9.80
-7.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$1.51 MYR 6.12
30.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
$1.27 MYR 5.13
46.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
$1.38 MYR 5.56
75.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.12 MYR 4.51
-8.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,427
$0.55 MYR 2.23
-5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$4.43 MYR 17.91
-50.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.2K
$18.83 MYR 76.2
15.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$3.00 MYR 12.11
-22.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.6K
$4.44 MYR 17.94
-33.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,519
$0.72 MYR 2.90
-65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.5K
$12.03 MYR 48.65
-32.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,901
$1.19 MYR 4.80
-63.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,446
$0.56 MYR 2.28
-16.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.1K
$7.41 MYR 29.98
-24.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$0.79 MYR 3.18
5.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.3M
$44.8K MYR 181.0K
-45.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.1M
$35.3K MYR 142.6K
-10.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$49.59 MYR 201
56.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 110.9K
$9.83 MYR 39.75
-37.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.4K
$28.33 MYR 115
-33.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 920.4K
$37.05 MYR 150
37.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.4K
$6.47 MYR 26.16
182.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
$4.78 MYR 19.33
-8.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$235 MYR 952
109.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.6M
$6,971 MYR 28.2K
75.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 815.1K
$56.7 MYR 229
-20.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 629.7K
$34.64 MYR 140
0.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$79.9 MYR 323
-1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$75.4 MYR 305
3.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.4M
$407 MYR 1,646
164.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$296 MYR 1,198
124.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
$716 MYR 2,896
390.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
$545 MYR 2,205
206.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.2M
$2,017 MYR 8,156
16.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
$1,175 MYR 4,753
90.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kuala Terengganu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.06
239.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Kuala Terengganu
$296 55.5% $369
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Kuala Terengganu
$258 7.7% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Kuala Terengganu
$111 4.4% $4.6
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Kuala Terengganu
$99 6.1% $6.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Kuala Terengganu
$88 14.4% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Kuala Terengganu
$47 22% $13
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Kuala Terengganu
$19 58.2% $7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $407 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $23 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $258 per month, with Kuala Terengganu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇾 Kuala Terengganu
🕒 Local time
12:48 12:48 PM
12:48 12:48 PM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
375,424
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,262 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 4.04 MYR (1 MYR = 0.247 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Kuala Terengganu 2,040 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Kuala Terengganu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Kuala Terengganu?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,331 in Ubud, Bali and $918 in Kuala Terengganu, so Kuala Terengganu is about 31% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Kuala Terengganu?
You’d need roughly $1,996 in Ubud, Bali and $1,377 in Kuala Terengganu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kuala Terengganu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $407 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Kuala Terengganu?
All in, you’ll spend $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $918 in Kuala Terengganu – Kuala Terengganu is about 31% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kuala Terengganu?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 32% less than in Kuala Terengganu. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $918 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,200 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.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Kuala Terengganu?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Kuala Terengganu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kuala Terengganu are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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