Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Langkawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Langkawi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $806 in Langkawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,241 in Langkawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,676 in Langkawi, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 75% more than Langkawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Langkawi is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$3.49 MYR 14.26
-1.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$21.18 MYR 86.6
52.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$5.95 MYR 24.35
-18.66%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$1.51 MYR 6.19
82.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.81 MYR 3.31
70.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.60 MYR 2.46
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$3.49 MYR 14.29
-14.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$5.07 MYR 20.75
-24.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.55 MYR 6.34
12.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.13 MYR 4.62
117.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.26 MYR 5.13
-7.14%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.10 MYR 8.59
15.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$14.79 MYR 60.5
-1.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$4.48 MYR 18.34
-2.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$9.65 MYR 39.45
24.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.94 MYR 7.92
91.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.53 MYR 6.27
6.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$2.60 MYR 10.62
5.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.42 MYR 5.83
57.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.18 MYR 4.83
62.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.34 MYR 5.46
70.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.04 MYR 4.24
1.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.52 MYR 2.11
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$3.77 MYR 15.40
-12.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$8.57 MYR 35.03
170.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$0.83 MYR 3.41
234.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.96 MYR 12.12
-7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.69 MYR 2.84
-60.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$11.61 MYR 47.48
-30.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.20 MYR 4.92
-60.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$1.04 MYR 4.24
-59.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$5.72 MYR 23.39
8.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.50 MYR 2.06
62.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$34.7K MYR 142.1K
-23.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$31.8K MYR 129.9K
1.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$35.46 MYR 145
120.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$8.86 MYR 36.23
-54.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$29.46 MYR 120
-17.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$20.86 MYR 85.3
372.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$6.05 MYR 24.76
4.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$4.97 MYR 20.34
-19.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$191 MYR 782
59.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$6,913 MYR 28.3K
-3.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$60.5 MYR 247
-10.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$27.56 MYR 113
37.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$73.6 MYR 301
18.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$51.0 MYR 209
49.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$389 MYR 1,591
155.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$273 MYR 1,117
146.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$647 MYR 2,646
421.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$466 MYR 1,905
340.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$1,188 MYR 4,857
136.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Langkawi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$1,232 MYR 5,040
-86.45%
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 Langkawi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $389 in Langkawi. 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 638% higher in Langkawi, 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 $21.00 in Langkawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $216 – making Langkawi 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 Langkawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Langkawi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $806 in Langkawi – roughly 75% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Langkawi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,209 in Langkawi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Langkawi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Langkawi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Langkawi?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Langkawi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Langkawi?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $191 in Langkawi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Langkawi, where all-in costs run around $806, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Langkawi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Langkawi?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $806 in Langkawi to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Langkawi safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Langkawi?
If budget matters most, go with Langkawi. 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.

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