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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $480 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $755 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,030 in Malang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 195% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Malang is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$1.27 Rp 22.6K

180.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$12.35 Rp 220.5K

165.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$3.06 Rp 54.6K

61.76%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

92.20%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

135.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.22 Rp 3,922

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$2.40 Rp 42.9K

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$3.10 Rp 55.3K

27.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.13 Rp 20.2K

60.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

65.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

33.33%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.45 Rp 25.9K

69.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$6.47 Rp 115.5K

127.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$3.18 Rp 56.7K

35.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$7.16 Rp 127.9K

69.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.33 Rp 41.6K

64.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.51 Rp 26.9K

3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.75 Rp 31.3K

61.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.45 Rp 25.8K

60.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.32 Rp 23.5K

44.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.77 Rp 31.6K

24.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.51 Rp 9,035

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.41 Rp 7,301

90.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.47 Rp 44.1K

34.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$12.73 Rp 227.3K

86.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

52.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$3.31 Rp 59.2K

-13.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.62 Rp 11.1K

-56.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$6.23 Rp 111.2K

28.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.47 Rp 8,480

-2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.31 Rp 5,614

45.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$6.26 Rp 111.9K

-2.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

3.95%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$20.6K Rp 367.4M

27.11%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$27.2K Rp 484.9M

18.29%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$33.63 Rp 600.6K

137.70%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$2.55 Rp 45.5K

59.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$19.60 Rp 350.0K

20.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$14.59 Rp 260.6K

576.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$4.90 Rp 87.5K

35.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$2.17 Rp 38.7K

91.24%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$34.05 Rp 608.1K

792.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$9,339 Rp 166.8M

-29.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$42.84 Rp 765.0K

29.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$30.31 Rp 541.2K

26.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$60.4 Rp 1.1M

46.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

-5.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$160 Rp 2.9M

527.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$50.0 Rp 893.4K

1249.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$276 Rp 4.9M

1146.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$91.2 Rp 1.6M

2136.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$198 Rp 3.5M

-16.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

232.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Malang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $160 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 20% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $183 – 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 195%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $721 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 29% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $34.05 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 $480, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.