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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $986 in Sarawak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,450 in Sarawak, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,914 in Sarawak, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 40% more than Sarawak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Sarawak is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$3.73 MYR 15.19

-10.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$19.47 MYR 79.2

83.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$4.91 MYR 19.96

14.66%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$3.00 MYR 12.22

-6.00%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.82 MYR 3.36

113.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.39 MYR 1.61

105.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$3.63 MYR 14.77

-16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.54 MYR 18.46

-5.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.82 MYR 7.40

-11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.06 MYR 4.32

114.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.51 MYR 6.15

-22.52%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.85 MYR 7.54

17.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$13.17 MYR 53.6

33.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.39 MYR 17.84

-7.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$9.79 MYR 39.85

24.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$3.26 MYR 13.26

11.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.76 MYR 7.18

-6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$2.41 MYR 9.81

-4.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.66 MYR 6.74

18.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$1.32 MYR 5.37

39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.17 MYR 4.74

102.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$1.21 MYR 4.92

-13.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.56 MYR 2.29

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.40 MYR 17.89

-47.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$19.47 MYR 79.2

18.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$3.02 MYR 12.29

-22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$3.68 MYR 14.97

-16.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.72 MYR 2.92

-65.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$12.50 MYR 50.9

-24.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-59.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.48 MYR 1.95

-2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$7.32 MYR 29.77

-23.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.73 MYR 2.96

10.96%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$42.2K MYR 171.7K

-40.74%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$35.7K MYR 145.3K

-13.05%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$49.33 MYR 201

67.69%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$9.93 MYR 40.41

-34.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$28.50 MYR 116

-34.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$40.37 MYR 164

36.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$6.50 MYR 26.45

180.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.95 MYR 20.13

-13.13%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$177 MYR 718

179.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$4,909 MYR 20.0K

20.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$61.3 MYR 249

-24.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$35.90 MYR 146

1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$81.2 MYR 330

-0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$69.2 MYR 282

13.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$422 MYR 1,716

164.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$328 MYR 1,334

111.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$709 MYR 2,883

413.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$493 MYR 2,007

247.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$2,086 MYR 8,485

32.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,123 MYR 4,567

104.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$343 MYR 1,397

-51.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.2

228.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $422 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 106% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Sarawak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $257 – 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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $986 in Sarawak – roughly 40% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,479 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 33% less in Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $177 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 $986, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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 $986 in Sarawak to $1,378 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.