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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $887 in Semenyih, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,337 in Semenyih, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,787 in Semenyih, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 57% more than Semenyih, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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 64.5K
$3.53 MYR 14.40
1.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$18.95 MYR 77.4
70.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$4.78 MYR 19.51
4.81%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$2.87 MYR 11.71
-1.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.61 MYR 2.50
121.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.48 MYR 1.97
52.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$4.83 MYR 19.71
-39.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$6.74 MYR 27.53
-41.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.79 MYR 7.31
-0.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.94 MYR 3.83
160.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.23 MYR 5.04
-6.50%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$1.89 MYR 7.73
27.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$15.65 MYR 63.9
-8.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$4.95 MYR 20.22
-15.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$11.14 MYR 45.49
8.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$3.72 MYR 15.18
-2.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.52 MYR 6.20
3.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$2.52 MYR 10.28
10.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.95 MYR 7.97
14.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$1.46 MYR 5.95
35.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.72 MYR 7.02
32.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$1.27 MYR 5.18
-17.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.51 MYR 2.10
54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$4.29 MYR 17.50
-25.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$14.03 MYR 57.3
67.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$2.78 MYR 11.36
4.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$2.93 MYR 11.95
-5.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.72 MYR 2.95
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$11.64 MYR 47.54
-28.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$1.40 MYR 5.70
-67.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$0.66 MYR 2.68
-30.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$5.81 MYR 23.73
4.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$0.47 MYR 1.91
82.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$35.5K MYR 144.9K
-25.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$38.4K MYR 156.8K
-15.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$45.70 MYR 187
72.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$9.36 MYR 38.21
-56.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$30.69 MYR 125
-22.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$37.02 MYR 151
166.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$5.72 MYR 23.36
11.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$4.83 MYR 19.74
-16.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$186 MYR 761
59.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$6,794 MYR 27.7K
-2.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$64.1 MYR 262
-16.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$18.70 MYR 76.4
103.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$72.8 MYR 297
21.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$39.64 MYR 162
93.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$393 MYR 1,606
159.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$270 MYR 1,104
151.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$643 MYR 2,623
439.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$474 MYR 1,934
341.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$1,760 MYR 7,185
55.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$1,152 MYR 4,703
99.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Semenyih
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$675 MYR 2,754
-75.73%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Semenyih: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $393 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 312% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Semenyih. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $259 – 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 57% 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 and in Semenyih?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,330 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 and in Semenyih?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $887 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 in Semenyih?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Semenyih, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $887 versus $1,392 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 to 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities