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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $945 in Serdang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,444 in Serdang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,942 in Serdang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 52% more than Serdang, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Serdang is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$4.69 MYR 18.53

-23.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$27.80 MYR 110

17.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$4.79 MYR 18.91

5.85%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$3.07 MYR 12.11

-7.82%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.87 MYR 3.43

54.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.54 MYR 2.11

27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$4.22 MYR 16.66

-29.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$5.78 MYR 22.82

-33.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$2.07 MYR 8.18

-15.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.06 MYR 4.19

139.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.64 MYR 6.49

-27.44%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$2.27 MYR 8.96

7.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$14.40 MYR 56.9

1.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$4.62 MYR 18.26

-9.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$9.65 MYR 38.11

23.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.99 MYR 11.81

23.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.61 MYR 6.37

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.72 MYR 10.75

-1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.46 MYR 5.78

59.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.28 MYR 5.04

49.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.39 MYR 5.48

57.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.16 MYR 4.57

-8.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.62 MYR 2.44

16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$4.34 MYR 17.14

-27.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$18.84 MYR 74.4

24.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$3.39 MYR 13.37

-19.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$4.40 MYR 17.37

-34.55%

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

$11.89 MYR 46.96

-31.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.21 MYR 4.79

-62.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$1.14 MYR 4.49

-63.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$4.74 MYR 18.72

29.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.50 MYR 1.99

68.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$40.2K MYR 158.6K

-34.65%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$32.3K MYR 127.4K

0.68%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$63.5 MYR 251

23.42%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$11.66 MYR 46.07

-66.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$25.52 MYR 101

-4.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$37.01 MYR 146

160.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$6.03 MYR 23.80

5.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$5.27 MYR 20.83

-23.34%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$263 MYR 1,039

15.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$9,359 MYR 37.0K

-30.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$59.9 MYR 237

-10.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$37.50 MYR 148

1.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$86.4 MYR 341

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$81.0 MYR 320

-2.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$393 MYR 1,553

157.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$264 MYR 1,044

155.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$649 MYR 2,564

422.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$479 MYR 1,894

337.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,630 MYR 6,437

83.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$1,017 MYR 4,018

129.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,029 MYR 4,064

-83.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.47

197.09%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Serdang: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $393 in Serdang. 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 494% higher in Serdang, 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 $28.00 in Serdang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $267 – making Serdang 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 Serdang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $945 in Serdang – roughly 52% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,418 in Serdang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Serdang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $28.00 in Serdang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Serdang, where all-in costs run around $945, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Serdang 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 $945 in Serdang to $1,438 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 Serdang. 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.