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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $910 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,354 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,798 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 58% more than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% 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 61.6K

$3.44 MYR 13.59

3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

$18.50 MYR 73.1

76.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

$4.61 MYR 18.21

9.98%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

$2.78 MYR 10.97

1.80%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$0.67 MYR 2.65

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.36 MYR 1.43

91.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

$3.57 MYR 14.08

-16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

$5.17 MYR 20.44

-25.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-8.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

$0.97 MYR 3.82

161.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.79 MYR 7.07

-33.52%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

$2.24 MYR 8.85

8.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

$10.69 MYR 42.24

37.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

$3.56 MYR 14.04

17.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

$8.22 MYR 32.46

45.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

$2.69 MYR 10.61

37.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.73 MYR 6.84

-6.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

$2.48 MYR 9.81

8.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

$1.27 MYR 5.00

83.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

$1.19 MYR 4.69

60.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

$1.34 MYR 5.29

63.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.90 MYR 3.54

17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.63 MYR 2.48

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

$4.29 MYR 16.95

-27.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

$20.15 MYR 79.6

16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

$2.77 MYR 10.94

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

$3.92 MYR 15.50

-26.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

$0.75 MYR 2.97

-61.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

$11.70 MYR 46.22

-30.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

$0.98 MYR 3.88

-54.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

$0.35 MYR 1.38

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

$9.03 MYR 35.68

-31.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$0.50 MYR 1.98

68.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

$31.8K MYR 125.7K

-17.55%

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

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

$28.1K MYR 110.8K

15.77%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$40.25 MYR 159

94.83%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

$9.09 MYR 35.92

-56.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

$22.94 MYR 90.6

6.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$37.39 MYR 148

158.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

$7.48 MYR 29.55

-15.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

$4.99 MYR 19.72

-19.04%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$214 MYR 846

41.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

$8,042 MYR 31.8K

-18.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

$48.73 MYR 192

10.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

$33.82 MYR 134

12.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$55.0 MYR 217

57.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$49.39 MYR 195

59.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$471 MYR 1,860

114.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

$347 MYR 1,371

94.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

$820 MYR 3,240

313.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

$555 MYR 2,190

278.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

$3,321 MYR 13.1K

-10.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

$211 MYR 833

1009.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,757 MYR 6,938

-90.14%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 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 915% 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: $298 vs $239 – 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 58% 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,365 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 43% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $214 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 $910, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $910 versus $1,438 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.