Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Seri Iskandar Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Seri Iskandar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $761 in Seri Iskandar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $948 in Seri Iskandar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,135 in Seri Iskandar.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 81% more expensive than in Seri Iskandar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Seri Iskandar is 45% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$2.77 MYR 11.27

20.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$29.38 MYR 120

21.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$4.84 MYR 19.68

16.32%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$0.94 MYR 3.83

200.00%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.54 MYR 2.19

224.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.28 MYR 1.15

185.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.89 MYR 11.74

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.61 MYR 14.69

19.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.63 MYR 6.63

-1.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.02 MYR 4.13

122.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.48 MYR 1.95

143.75%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$2.05 MYR 8.35

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$5.35 MYR 21.75

229.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$2.03 MYR 8.27

99.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$4.57 MYR 18.60

166.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.20 MYR 8.96

64.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-2.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$1.93 MYR 7.86

19.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$0.96 MYR 3.89

104.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.60 MYR 2.42

206.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.03 MYR 4.17

130.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.97 MYR 3.95

8.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.61 MYR 2.48

-11.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.35 MYR 17.71

-47.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$7.31 MYR 29.75

215.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.50 MYR 10.16

-6.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$3.78 MYR 15.36

-18.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$1.10 MYR 4.46

-77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$12.29 MYR 50.0

-23.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$0.96 MYR 3.89

-48.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.48 MYR 1.97

-2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$4.87 MYR 19.82

14.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.60 MYR 2.45

35.00%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$19.8K MYR 80.6K

26.24%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$19.8K MYR 80.7K

56.60%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$65.4 MYR 266

26.43%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$9.45 MYR 38.45

-31.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$16.98 MYR 69.1

10.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$13.52 MYR 55.0

308.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$6.69 MYR 27.21

172.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.82 MYR 15.56

12.57%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$172 MYR 698

187.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$4,926 MYR 20.0K

20.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$17.24 MYR 70.1

168.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$8.55 MYR 34.76

326.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$60.8 MYR 247

32.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$37.58 MYR 153

109.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$430 MYR 1,748

159.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$333 MYR 1,355

108.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$711 MYR 2,890

412.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$162 MYR 659

956.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$2,077 MYR 8,449

32.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,113 MYR 4,526

106.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$376 MYR 1,529

-55.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

589.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Seri Iskandar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $430 in Seri Iskandar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seri Iskandar pays 125% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Seri Iskandar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $160 per month, with Seri Iskandar 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 Seri Iskandar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Seri Iskandar differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $761 including rent). Seri Iskandar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 125% lower in Seri Iskandar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $430 in Seri Iskandar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seri Iskandar – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $761 in Seri Iskandar – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $761 in Seri Iskandar versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Seri Iskandar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Seri Iskandar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Seri Iskandar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Seri Iskandar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.