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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $965 in Semenyih, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,443 in Semenyih, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,921 in Semenyih, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 42% more than Semenyih, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$3.64 MYR 14.89

-5.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$21.78 MYR 89.1

66.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$4.80 MYR 19.65

18.96%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$2.93 MYR 12.01

-8.87%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.62 MYR 2.56

182.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.51 MYR 2.11

70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$4.36 MYR 17.86

-32.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$6.18 MYR 25.29

-26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.69 MYR 6.90

-4.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.00 MYR 4.11

133.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.49 MYR 6.11

-25.50%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$1.75 MYR 7.16

25.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$17.96 MYR 73.5

-1.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$4.67 MYR 19.12

-12.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$10.91 MYR 44.66

11.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$3.46 MYR 14.15

7.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.75 MYR 7.15

-9.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$3.80 MYR 15.54

-40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$1.62 MYR 6.64

20.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.45 MYR 5.94

31.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.75 MYR 7.14

33.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.32 MYR 5.39

-23.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.51 MYR 2.09

7.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$4.35 MYR 17.81

-48.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$14.23 MYR 58.3

62.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$2.89 MYR 11.82

-16.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$3.12 MYR 12.78

-3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.75 MYR 3.06

-64.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

$12.04 MYR 49.30

-25.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$1.44 MYR 5.89

-66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$0.77 MYR 3.16

-44.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$10.11 MYR 41.38

-44.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.52 MYR 2.12

53.85%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$42.1K MYR 172.4K

-40.77%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$35.4K MYR 144.9K

-10.42%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$52.3 MYR 214

55.67%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$11.25 MYR 46.06

-42.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$29.07 MYR 119

-35.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$41.42 MYR 170

37.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$7.22 MYR 29.56

159.42%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$4.83 MYR 19.79

-6.00%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$163 MYR 668

194.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$4,526 MYR 18.5K

26.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$65.6 MYR 268

-30.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$16.41 MYR 67.2

118.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$82.6 MYR 338

-2.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$41.56 MYR 170

89.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$409 MYR 1,674

172.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$309 MYR 1,266

125.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$687 MYR 2,814

429.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$495 MYR 2,026

250.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

$1,913 MYR 7,829

45.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

$1,144 MYR 4,682

100.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$667 MYR 2,730

-74.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

4.06

239.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Semenyih: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $409 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 297% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $22.00 in Semenyih. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $269 – 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 42% more than Semenyih, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,448 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $22.00 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 $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $965 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 $965, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $965 versus $1,368 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.