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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $753 in Malacca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,157 in Malacca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,562 in Malacca, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 87% more than Malacca, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Malacca is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$3.61 MYR 14.63

-1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$18.57 MYR 75.3

75.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.59 MYR 18.62

5.88%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.89 MYR 11.72

-4.84%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.79 MYR 3.19

67.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.49 MYR 1.98

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.14 MYR 8.66

35.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$3.12 MYR 12.67

21.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.48 MYR 6.01

15.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.98 MYR 3.99

152.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.23 MYR 5.00

-2.44%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.81 MYR 7.35

34.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$15.36 MYR 62.3

-6.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.99 MYR 20.23

-13.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$11.48 MYR 46.57

6.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$3.74 MYR 15.16

-1.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.48 MYR 5.98

4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.65 MYR 10.74

5.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$2.03 MYR 8.21

14.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.53 MYR 6.22

28.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.73 MYR 7.02

33.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.28 MYR 5.17

-17.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.56 MYR 2.27

30.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$4.15 MYR 16.82

-20.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$14.09 MYR 57.2

61.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.99 MYR 8.08

41.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.92 MYR 11.85

-4.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-35.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$11.84 MYR 48.02

-31.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.39 MYR 5.64

-67.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.99 MYR 4.01

-54.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$5.88 MYR 23.84

6.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.49 MYR 2.00

73.47%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$35.9K MYR 145.5K

-27.58%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$38.2K MYR 154.8K

-17.09%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$44.85 MYR 182

80.04%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$9.25 MYR 37.53

-56.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$30.20 MYR 122

-19.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$16.76 MYR 68.0

482.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$11.71 MYR 47.48

-44.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$4.90 MYR 19.86

-17.55%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$188 MYR 762

61.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$6,873 MYR 27.9K

-3.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$65.5 MYR 266

-17.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$19.13 MYR 77.6

102.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$71.8 MYR 291

19.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$40.10 MYR 163

91.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$334 MYR 1,355

194.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$189 MYR 768

247.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$706 MYR 2,862

377.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$281 MYR 1,139

635.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,956 MYR 7,932

40.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$991 MYR 4,017

124.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$934 MYR 3,788

-82.51%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Malacca: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $334 in Malacca. 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 472% higher in Malacca, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Malacca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $254 – making Malacca 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 Malacca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $753 in Malacca – roughly 87% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,129 in Malacca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malacca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Malacca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $753 in Malacca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malacca, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Malacca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $753 in Malacca to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Malacca. 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.