Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $909 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,337 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,765 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 54% more than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Petaling Jaya is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$3.63 MYR 14.70

-1.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$18.88 MYR 76.6

72.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.69 MYR 19.02

3.62%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.71 MYR 10.99

1.48%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.68 MYR 2.74

94.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.37 MYR 1.49

89.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$3.51 MYR 14.24

-17.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$4.96 MYR 20.10

-23.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.92 MYR 7.78

-10.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.95 MYR 3.85

160.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.74 MYR 7.07

-31.03%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.16 MYR 8.75

12.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$10.81 MYR 43.82

33.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$3.56 MYR 14.45

21.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$7.94 MYR 32.21

53.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.76 MYR 11.18

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.73 MYR 7.02

-10.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.47 MYR 10.04

12.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.21 MYR 4.89

92.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.15 MYR 4.65

71.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.38 MYR 5.58

67.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.94 MYR 3.83

12.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.63 MYR 2.57

15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$4.13 MYR 16.74

-20.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$19.45 MYR 78.9

17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.74 MYR 11.09

2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.77 MYR 15.30

-26.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.76 MYR 3.08

-61.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$11.97 MYR 48.52

-32.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.99 MYR 4.00

-54.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.32 MYR 1.32

40.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$9.35 MYR 37.92

-33.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.47 MYR 1.90

80.85%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

-16.98%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

12.41%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$40.93 MYR 166

97.29%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$8.87 MYR 35.97

-54.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$23.16 MYR 93.9

5.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$36.87 MYR 149

164.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$7.22 MYR 29.28

-10.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$5.01 MYR 20.30

-19.36%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$209 MYR 849

45.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

-18.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$48.47 MYR 197

11.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$33.99 MYR 138

14.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$53.9 MYR 219

59.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$48.57 MYR 197

57.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$471 MYR 1,911

109.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$347 MYR 1,407

89.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$817 MYR 3,311

312.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$543 MYR 2,200

280.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

-13.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$210 MYR 851

960.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$1,742 MYR 7,066

-90.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.49

195.77%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $471 in Petaling Jaya. 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 966% higher in Petaling Jaya, 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 Petaling Jaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $236 – making Petaling Jaya 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 Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 54% more than Petaling Jaya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,364 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 49% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $209 in Petaling Jaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $909, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petaling Jaya costs $909 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Petaling Jaya. 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.