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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $906 in Semenyih, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,377 in Semenyih, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,847 in Semenyih, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 59% more than Semenyih, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Semenyih is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$3.50 MYR 13.83

2.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$19.04 MYR 75.2

71.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$4.69 MYR 18.52

8.10%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$3.01 MYR 11.88

-5.98%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.61 MYR 2.43

119.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.49 MYR 1.93

40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$4.62 MYR 18.24

-35.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$6.71 MYR 26.50

-42.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.82 MYR 7.17

-4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.93 MYR 3.65

173.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.26 MYR 4.96

-5.56%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.87 MYR 7.37

29.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$15.76 MYR 62.3

-6.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$5.14 MYR 20.28

-18.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$11.56 MYR 45.64

3.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$3.61 MYR 14.26

2.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.48 MYR 5.85

8.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.52 MYR 9.95

6.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$2.03 MYR 8.00

14.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.47 MYR 5.81

29.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.73 MYR 6.81

26.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.29 MYR 5.09

-17.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.56 MYR 2.21

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$4.36 MYR 17.20

-28.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$14.81 MYR 58.5

58.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$2.84 MYR 11.23

-3.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$2.89 MYR 11.41

-0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.73 MYR 2.87

-60.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$11.72 MYR 46.29

-30.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.39 MYR 5.48

-67.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.64 MYR 2.54

-34.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$6.00 MYR 23.71

2.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.49 MYR 1.94

71.43%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$35.2K MYR 139.2K

-25.54%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$38.0K MYR 150.2K

-14.59%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$45.43 MYR 179

72.62%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$9.12 MYR 36.01

-56.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$30.95 MYR 122

-21.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$36.29 MYR 143

166.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$5.85 MYR 23.12

8.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$5.00 MYR 19.73

-19.20%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$191 MYR 753

58.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$7,021 MYR 27.7K

-7.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$66.0 MYR 261

-18.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$19.04 MYR 75.2

99.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$72.1 MYR 285

20.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$40.71 MYR 161

93.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$385 MYR 1,521

162.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$271 MYR 1,070

148.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$647 MYR 2,557

423.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$472 MYR 1,864

344.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,786 MYR 7,054

67.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$878 MYR 3,468

166.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$701 MYR 2,771

-75.32%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Semenyih: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $385 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 305% 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: $298 vs $264 – 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

Ubud, Bali costs about 59% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,359 in Semenyih. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $906 in Semenyih. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Semenyih, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Semenyih it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Semenyih costs $906 versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 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.