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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $910 in Sarawak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,588 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,313 in Sarawak, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,716 in Sarawak, rent included.

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

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Sarawak is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 Rp 61.5K

$3.57 MYR 14.59

-3.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.97 Rp 573.3K

$18.74 MYR 76.6

70.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 Rp 90.6K

$5.21 MYR 21.32

-3.07%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.7K

$2.79 MYR 11.43

-2.87%

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

$1.39 Rp 24.9K

$0.79 MYR 3.21

75.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

$0.39 MYR 1.60

89.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 Rp 51.9K

$7.67 MYR 31.38

-62.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$8.42 MYR 34.42

-54.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.2K

$1.82 MYR 7.43

-1.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 Rp 44.9K

$1.00 MYR 4.08

151.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$1.25 MYR 5.13

-3.20%

Eggs

$2.37 Rp 42.5K

$2.14 MYR 8.73

10.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 Rp 258.8K

$14.84 MYR 60.7

-2.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 Rp 74.4K

$2.57 MYR 10.49

61.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.11 Rp 217.3K

$9.49 MYR 38.80

27.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 67.6K

$2.88 MYR 11.80

30.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.53 MYR 6.26

6.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 Rp 48.5K

$2.50 MYR 10.23

8.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

$1.37 MYR 5.61

64.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

$1.24 MYR 5.06

55.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

$1.32 MYR 5.39

65.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$0.99 MYR 4.07

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.8K

$0.66 MYR 2.71

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 57.1K

$4.18 MYR 17.09

-23.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.84 Rp 427.5K

$16.95 MYR 69.3

40.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 Rp 49.8K

$2.81 MYR 11.51

-1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$3.04 MYR 12.42

-9.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,794

$0.72 MYR 2.96

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 Rp 147.0K

$11.74 MYR 48.00

-30.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,668

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,557

$1.03 MYR 4.20

-59.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 Rp 108.1K

$5.88 MYR 24.04

2.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.50 MYR 2.06

64.00%

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

$26.6K Rp 476.4M

$35.1K MYR 143.6K

-24.33%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.6M

$31.9K MYR 130.6K

0.83%

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

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$43.10 MYR 176

81.55%

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

$3.91 Rp 70.2K

$8.86 MYR 36.24

-55.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.91 Rp 428.9K

$29.05 MYR 119

-17.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$37.07 MYR 152

159.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 117.0K

$6.04 MYR 24.69

8.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.0K

$4.98 MYR 20.38

-19.48%

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

$303 Rp 5.4M

$189 MYR 771

60.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,551 Rp 117.5M

$6,901 MYR 28.2K

-5.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 Rp 992.0K

$36.25 MYR 148

52.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.32 Rp 687.3K

$38.85 MYR 159

-1.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

$78.1 MYR 319

13.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$56.1 MYR 229

36.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$329 MYR 1,347

199.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 Rp 12.2M

$273 MYR 1,116

149.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,420 Rp 61.3M

$498 MYR 2,038

586.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 Rp 37.2M

$356 MYR 1,455

483.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,762 Rp 49.5M

$2,076 MYR 8,489

33.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,243 Rp 40.2M

$1,136 MYR 4,646

97.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$417 MYR 1,706

-59.55%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $329 in Sarawak. 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 147% higher in Sarawak, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Sarawak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $240 – making Sarawak 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 Sarawak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, $910 in Sarawak – roughly 54% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,096 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,364 in Sarawak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sarawak, 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 Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $189 in Sarawak. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sarawak, where all-in costs run around $910, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,397. In Sarawak 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 $910 in Sarawak to $1,397 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 Sarawak. 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.