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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $771 in Seremban.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,194 in Seremban.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,617 in Seremban.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 84% more expensive than Seremban, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Seremban is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$2.91 MYR 11.63
22.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$18.56 MYR 74.0
76.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$3.51 MYR 14.00
41.03%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$2.67 MYR 10.66
1.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.83 MYR 3.31
61.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.46 MYR 1.82
52.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$3.53 MYR 14.07
-17.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$6.67 MYR 26.60
-40.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.75 MYR 6.99
3.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$0.94 MYR 3.76
168.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.23 MYR 4.92
-5.69%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$1.86 MYR 7.44
32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$15.08 MYR 60.2
-2.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$4.12 MYR 16.45
4.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$8.33 MYR 33.23
45.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$3.61 MYR 14.40
6.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$1.21 MYR 4.82
28.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$2.62 MYR 10.47
8.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$1.70 MYR 6.78
37.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.08 MYR 4.29
76.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$1.31 MYR 5.23
67.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$1.29 MYR 5.13
-21.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.56 MYR 2.25
39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$4.30 MYR 17.16
-22.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$14.38 MYR 57.4
65.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$2.76 MYR 11.00
1.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$4.20 MYR 16.77
-31.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$1.10 MYR 4.39
-75.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$12.00 MYR 47.89
-33.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$0.73 MYR 2.90
-36.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$0.88 MYR 3.51
-48.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$4.62 MYR 18.44
32.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.46 MYR 1.85
71.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$49.2K MYR 196.2K
-46.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$33.4K MYR 133.2K
-3.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$37.92 MYR 151
110.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$8.98 MYR 35.84
-54.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$25.83 MYR 103
-8.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$56.6 MYR 226
74.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$5.99 MYR 23.90
10.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$4.13 MYR 16.49
0.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$187 MYR 744
62.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$4,509 MYR 18.0K
46.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$66.1 MYR 264
-15.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$18.81 MYR 75.0
103.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$73.9 MYR 295
19.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$39.69 MYR 158
96.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$260 MYR 1,038
286.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$186 MYR 741
263.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$430 MYR 1,717
699.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$349 MYR 1,393
484.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Seremban
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$837 MYR 3,339
-80.25%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seremban: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $260 in Seremban. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seremban pays 406% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $19.00 in Seremban for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $243 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 84% 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 Seremban?
On paper, Seremban earns 406% less. 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 vs Seremban?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $260 in Seremban. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Seremban?
A monthly transit pass in Seremban runs roughly 49% 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 Seremban?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $187 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 Seremban?
At $771 in Seremban versus $1,419 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 $771 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 84% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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