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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $900 in Sarawak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,286 in Sarawak, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,673 in Sarawak, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 56% more than Sarawak, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Sarawak is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.1K

$3.64 MYR 14.79

-1.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 584.0K

$18.77 MYR 76.4

73.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.4K

$5.28 MYR 21.46

-7.95%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.76 MYR 11.23

-0.36%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$0.74 MYR 3.01

78.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.39 MYR 1.60

79.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.3K

$7.91 MYR 32.16

-63.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.2K

$8.29 MYR 33.71

-54.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.7K

$1.89 MYR 7.69

-9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.5K

$1.00 MYR 4.07

147.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

$1.29 MYR 5.23

-6.98%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.9K

$2.04 MYR 8.28

19.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 258.4K

$14.95 MYR 60.8

-3.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.3K

$2.55 MYR 10.39

69.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 219.4K

$9.68 MYR 39.35

26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.2K

$2.91 MYR 11.82

26.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

$1.48 MYR 6.00

4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$2.58 MYR 10.48

8.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$1.45 MYR 5.90

60.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

$1.22 MYR 4.97

61.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.5K

$1.33 MYR 5.40

73.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.00 MYR 4.09

6.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.67 MYR 2.73

8.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.9K

$4.29 MYR 17.46

-23.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 409.5K

$17.42 MYR 70.9

30.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.4K

$2.82 MYR 11.49

-0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 50.0K

$2.99 MYR 12.15

-7.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,232

$0.69 MYR 2.82

-57.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.8K

$11.98 MYR 48.71

-32.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,069

$1.15 MYR 4.67

-60.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,117

$0.98 MYR 3.99

-54.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 112.1K

$5.92 MYR 24.06

5.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.49 MYR 2.01

73.47%

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

$26.0K Rp 466.7M

$34.9K MYR 142.1K

-25.63%

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

$31.7K Rp 568.8M

$31.9K MYR 129.8K

-0.78%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.5M

$43.20 MYR 176

86.92%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$8.94 MYR 36.36

-54.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 438.8K

$29.23 MYR 119

-16.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.8M

$37.24 MYR 151

162.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.8K

$6.00 MYR 24.39

7.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.6K

$5.06 MYR 20.59

-20.16%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$189 MYR 770

60.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 119.0M

$6,935 MYR 28.2K

-4.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 974.4K

$36.81 MYR 150

47.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 696.6K

$39.24 MYR 160

-1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$76.9 MYR 313

12.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$56.1 MYR 228

36.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$324 MYR 1,317

204.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$269 MYR 1,095

144.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.5M

$505 MYR 2,052

567.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.1M

$360 MYR 1,463

474.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.3M

$1,935 MYR 7,870

41.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 40.0M

$973 MYR 3,956

129.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$420 MYR 1,708

-61.08%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $324 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 157% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Sarawak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $243 – 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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $900 in Sarawak – roughly 56% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,350 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 49% less in Sarawak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 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 $900, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $900 in Sarawak to $1,404 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.