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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $476 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $743 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,010 in Malang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 188% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Malang is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

207.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$11.32 Rp 200.4K

220.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$2.88 Rp 50.9K

98.26%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

106.98%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

191.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.22 Rp 3,885

295.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

27.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$4.13 Rp 73.1K

9.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

60.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.10 Rp 19.4K

111.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

38.75%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

73.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$6.04 Rp 107.0K

192.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$3.11 Rp 55.1K

31.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$7.25 Rp 128.5K

68.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.04 Rp 36.1K

81.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$1.29 Rp 22.8K

23.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

47.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$1.49 Rp 26.5K

30.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

50.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

22.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.51 Rp 8,976

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.41 Rp 7,221

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

-18.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$12.54 Rp 222.1K

83.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.76 Rp 31.2K

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$2.96 Rp 52.4K

1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

-55.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$5.58 Rp 98.8K

60.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$0.48 Rp 8,540

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$0.39 Rp 6,837

10.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$5.69 Rp 100.7K

-0.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.69 Rp 12.1K

15.94%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$25.8K Rp 456.7M

-3.28%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$28.1K Rp 497.3M

12.92%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$31.73 Rp 561.8K

156.73%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$2.46 Rp 43.5K

163.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$20.00 Rp 354.2K

-6.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$14.87 Rp 263.3K

282.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$4.71 Rp 83.4K

297.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

130.46%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$31.19 Rp 552.3K

1441.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$9,663 Rp 171.1M

-40.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$56.6 Rp 1.0M

-19.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$23.07 Rp 408.5K

55.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$51.6 Rp 914.4K

55.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$36.37 Rp 644.0K

116.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$140 Rp 2.5M

698.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$92.0 Rp 1.6M

658.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$196 Rp 3.5M

1759.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$154 Rp 2.7M

1025.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$208 Rp 3.7M

-19.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

244.50%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Malang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $140 in Malang. 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 24% higher in Malang, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $11.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $171 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 188%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $713 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 61% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $31.19 in Malang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $476, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Malang. 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.