Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Setia Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Setia Alam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $927 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,385 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,842 in Setia Alam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 53% more than Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Setia Alam is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$4.59 MYR 18.31

-22.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$23.15 MYR 92.4

41.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.84 MYR 19.32

2.27%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$3.13 MYR 12.50

-13.42%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.89 MYR 3.56

50.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.37 MYR 1.47

89.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$4.26 MYR 16.99

-31.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$5.74 MYR 22.91

-31.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.80 MYR 7.16

0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.68 MYR 2.72

270.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.98 MYR 3.91

18.37%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.73 MYR 6.91

42.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$4.62 MYR 18.44

218.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.92 MYR 15.63

10.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$9.45 MYR 37.69

28.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.32 MYR 5.29

190.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.59 MYR 6.34

-1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$1.29 MYR 5.14

119.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.43 MYR 5.71

62.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.23 MYR 4.93

55.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.27 MYR 5.07

73.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.61 MYR 2.42

65.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.56 MYR 2.24

39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.06 MYR 16.20

-18.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$19.94 MYR 79.6

19.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$3.23 MYR 12.90

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$4.27 MYR 17.05

-33.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.73 MYR 2.89

-63.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$11.93 MYR 47.61

-32.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$1.16 MYR 4.64

-60.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$1.14 MYR 4.54

-60.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$4.62 MYR 18.42

32.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.48 MYR 1.90

64.58%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$39.3K MYR 156.9K

-33.48%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$32.2K MYR 128.6K

-0.31%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$58.1 MYR 232

37.71%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$10.59 MYR 42.26

-61.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$25.89 MYR 103

-9.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$55.8 MYR 223

76.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$2.35 MYR 9.37

182.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$5.11 MYR 20.39

-18.79%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$193 MYR 769

57.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$9,575 MYR 38.2K

-30.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$61.3 MYR 245

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$24.70 MYR 98.6

55.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$84.5 MYR 337

4.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$52.0 MYR 208

49.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$496 MYR 1,979

102.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$309 MYR 1,233

118.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$815 MYR 3,252

322.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$524 MYR 2,091

289.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,965 MYR 7,840

44.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$991 MYR 3,955

128.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,180 MYR 4,708

-86.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.12

222.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $496 in Setia Alam. 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 614% higher in Setia Alam, 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 $23.00 in Setia Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $206 – making Setia Alam 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 Setia Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 53% more than Setia Alam, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,390 in Setia Alam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 49% less in Setia Alam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $193 in Setia Alam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Setia Alam, where all-in costs run around $927, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Setia Alam 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. Setia Alam costs $927 versus $1,419 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 Setia Alam. 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.