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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $905 in Semenyih, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,367 in Semenyih, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,830 in Semenyih, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 55% more than Semenyih, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$3.55 MYR 14.41
0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$19.04 MYR 77.2
70.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$4.67 MYR 18.93
4.07%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$3.02 MYR 12.23
-8.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$0.61 MYR 2.48
116.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.48 MYR 1.95
45.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$4.83 MYR 19.60
-39.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$6.51 MYR 26.41
-41.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.83 MYR 7.42
-6.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.99 MYR 4.03
149.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.28 MYR 5.20
-6.25%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$1.87 MYR 7.59
30.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$15.26 MYR 61.9
-5.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$5.00 MYR 20.28
-13.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$11.43 MYR 46.35
6.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$3.66 MYR 14.82
0.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.47 MYR 5.98
5.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$2.58 MYR 10.48
8.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$2.03 MYR 8.23
14.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$1.50 MYR 6.10
31.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.74 MYR 7.04
32.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.32 MYR 5.36
-19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.52 MYR 2.10
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$4.19 MYR 17.01
-21.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$14.34 MYR 58.1
58.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$2.76 MYR 11.20
1.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.92 MYR 11.84
-4.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$0.68 MYR 2.75
-57.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$11.81 MYR 47.90
-31.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$1.38 MYR 5.59
-67.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.70 MYR 2.84
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$5.76 MYR 23.35
8.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.47 MYR 1.90
80.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$34.8K MYR 141.1K
-25.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$38.8K MYR 157.4K
-18.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$45.87 MYR 186
76.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$9.32 MYR 37.78
-56.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$31.37 MYR 127
-22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$37.00 MYR 150
163.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$5.72 MYR 23.19
12.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$4.83 MYR 19.59
-16.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$188 MYR 762
61.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$7,016 MYR 28.5K
-5.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$64.0 MYR 260
-15.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$18.78 MYR 76.2
106.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$72.8 MYR 295
18.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$39.75 MYR 161
92.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$394 MYR 1,598
150.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$265 MYR 1,073
148.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$649 MYR 2,630
419.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$467 MYR 1,893
342.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$1,709 MYR 6,931
60.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$847 MYR 3,436
162.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$664 MYR 2,691
-75.38%
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 Semenyih: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $394 in Semenyih. 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 306% higher in Semenyih, 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 Semenyih. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $261 – making Semenyih 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 Semenyih: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Semenyih?
Ubud, Bali costs about 55% more than Semenyih, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Semenyih?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,357 in Semenyih. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Semenyih?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Semenyih, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Semenyih?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Semenyih. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Semenyih?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $905 in Semenyih. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Semenyih?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Semenyih, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Semenyih it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Semenyih?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Semenyih costs $905 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Semenyih?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or Semenyih?
If budget matters most, go with Semenyih. 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.

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