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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $909 in Sarawak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,312 in Sarawak, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,714 in Sarawak, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 55% 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

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$3.46 MYR 13.65

-1.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$18.70 MYR 73.9

76.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$5.41 MYR 21.37

-6.10%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$2.70 MYR 10.66

4.44%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$0.79 MYR 3.11

73.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.39 MYR 1.55

82.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$7.72 MYR 30.51

-61.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$8.13 MYR 32.13

-51.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$1.79 MYR 7.07

-2.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$0.99 MYR 3.92

154.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-1.63%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$2.04 MYR 8.08

14.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$15.06 MYR 59.5

-3.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$2.65 MYR 10.48

64.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$9.60 MYR 37.93

25.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$2.99 MYR 11.81

27.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.46 MYR 5.75

10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$2.50 MYR 9.88

8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$1.43 MYR 5.65

55.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$1.22 MYR 4.82

55.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$1.28 MYR 5.04

70.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$1.04 MYR 4.09

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$0.63 MYR 2.47

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$4.16 MYR 16.41

-23.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$16.22 MYR 64.1

43.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$2.86 MYR 11.28

-0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$2.97 MYR 11.74

-8.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$0.73 MYR 2.87

-60.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

$11.56 MYR 45.65

-27.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$1.20 MYR 4.75

-59.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$0.99 MYR 3.90

-54.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$5.91 MYR 23.35

6.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$0.50 MYR 1.98

70.00%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$35.2K MYR 139.1K

-25.98%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$31.7K MYR 125.3K

-0.59%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$42.70 MYR 169

86.81%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$8.86 MYR 34.99

-53.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$28.95 MYR 114

-16.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$37.04 MYR 146

159.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

$6.03 MYR 23.82

8.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$4.90 MYR 19.34

-15.71%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

$187 MYR 737

59.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

$6,975 MYR 27.6K

-4.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$35.88 MYR 142

53.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$39.15 MYR 155

-1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$78.7 MYR 311

13.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$57.5 MYR 227

37.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$326 MYR 1,289

211.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$270 MYR 1,065

144.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$500 MYR 1,977

586.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$356 MYR 1,405

477.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

$1,754 MYR 6,928

69.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

$886 MYR 3,498

167.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

$429 MYR 1,696

-59.93%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $326 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 150% 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 $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $19 in Sarawak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $909 in Sarawak – roughly 55% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 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 37% less in Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $187 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 $909, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $909 in Sarawak to $1,408 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.