😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $796 in Seremban.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,280 in Seremban.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,763 in Seremban.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 75% more expensive than in Seremban, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Seremban is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37Rp 59.5K
$3.75MYR 15.15
-10.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59Rp 680.3K
$22.09MYR 89.3
74.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.52Rp 97.3K
$3.81MYR 15.41
44.88%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.6K
$2.88MYR 11.63
-8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 29.5K
$0.84MYR 3.39
98.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.46MYR 1.84
67.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 46.4K
$3.66MYR 14.78
-28.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28Rp 75.5K
$4.85MYR 19.62
-11.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55Rp 27.3K
$1.77MYR 7.15
-12.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22Rp 39.2K
$1.07MYR 4.33
107.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13Rp 19.8K
$1.50MYR 6.08
-24.67%
Eggs
$2.09Rp 36.8K
$1.70MYR 6.89
22.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.39Rp 306.6K
$18.50MYR 74.8
-6.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87Rp 68.2K
$4.50MYR 18.17
-14.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55Rp 221.2K
$10.36MYR 41.85
21.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.8K
$3.44MYR 13.89
5.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.5K
$1.31MYR 5.28
19.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35Rp 41.5K
$4.75MYR 19.18
-50.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.2K
$1.38MYR 5.60
49.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.5K
$1.04MYR 4.20
82.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.20MYR 4.86
95.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 18.2K
$1.23MYR 4.96
-16.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,779
$0.52MYR 2.08
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 39.7K
$4.43MYR 17.89
-49.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 419.7K
$14.37MYR 58.1
65.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31Rp 40.8K
$2.95MYR 11.94
-21.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80Rp 49.4K
$3.12MYR 12.61
-10.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,802
$1.25MYR 5.05
-78.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.66Rp 152.7K
$24.58MYR 99.3
-64.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,489
$0.71MYR 2.85
-32.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$0.71MYR 2.85
-36.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.72Rp 100.8K
$10.10MYR 40.81
-43.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$0.61MYR 2.45
24.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 431.6M
$41.8KMYR 168.9K
-41.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 566.3M
$35.5KMYR 143.5K
-9.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$45.50MYR 184
83.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46Rp 113.8K
$10.82MYR 43.74
-40.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99Rp 334.8K
$29.27MYR 118
-35.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0Rp 986.8K
$66.3MYR 268
-15.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28Rp 75.5K
$4.33MYR 17.51
-1.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487Rp 8.6M
$184MYR 745
164.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,856Rp 103.2M
$4,510MYR 18.2K
29.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56Rp 803.2K
$49.68MYR 201
-8.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38Rp 641.4K
$36.48MYR 147
-0.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0Rp 1.4M
$81.1MYR 328
1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$87.7MYR 354
-8.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,117Rp 19.7M
$184MYR 744
506.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701Rp 12.4M
$122MYR 491
476.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,537Rp 62.4M
$306MYR 1,236
1056.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,762Rp 31.1M
$254MYR 1,028
592.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170Rp 3.0M
$799MYR 3,230
-78.76%
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: August 31, 2026
Last update for Seremban: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $184 in Seremban. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Seremban pays 371% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Seremban for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $268 per month, with Seremban cheaper across the board.
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 Seremban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Seremban?
Seremban wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seremban the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Seremban?
On paper, salaries run 371% lower in Seremban. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Seremban?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $184 in Seremban. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Seremban?
A monthly transit pass in Seremban runs roughly 184% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Seremban?
Childcare runs $487 in Ubud, Bali versus $184 in Seremban. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Seremban?
At $796 in Seremban versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Seremban but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Seremban the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Seremban?
Both work as nomad bases, but Seremban delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $796 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Seremban hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Seremban?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Seremban are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Seremban gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared