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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $918 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,395 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,872 in Setia Alam, rent included.

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

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Setia Alam is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$4.58 MYR 18.74

-24.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$23.80 MYR 97.4

35.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$4.68 MYR 19.15

3.42%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.98 MYR 12.20

-7.72%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.84 MYR 3.42

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.37 MYR 1.50

102.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$4.33 MYR 17.70

-30.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$6.02 MYR 24.63

-36.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.75 MYR 7.15

-0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.70 MYR 2.86

251.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.98 MYR 4.02

19.39%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.65 MYR 6.75

47.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$4.78 MYR 19.56

203.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$3.99 MYR 16.33

9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$9.52 MYR 38.95

25.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$1.33 MYR 5.44

179.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.57 MYR 6.42

3.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$1.34 MYR 5.46

104.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.39 MYR 5.68

61.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.22 MYR 5.00

57.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.33 MYR 5.42

71.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.57 MYR 2.34

85.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.53 MYR 2.17

35.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.21 MYR 17.23

-21.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$19.11 MYR 78.2

21.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.21 MYR 13.14

-13.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$4.21 MYR 17.24

-35.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-63.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$11.72 MYR 47.92

-30.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.17 MYR 4.78

-58.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$1.10 MYR 4.51

-61.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$4.62 MYR 18.89

34.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.50 MYR 2.05

62.00%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$40.6K MYR 166.0K

-34.44%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

0.01%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$59.1 MYR 242

32.64%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$10.73 MYR 43.87

-62.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$25.60 MYR 105

-4.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$54.8 MYR 224

79.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$2.38 MYR 9.73

166.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$5.04 MYR 20.62

-20.83%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$196 MYR 800

55.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$9,524 MYR 39.0K

-30.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$59.7 MYR 244

-9.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$24.82 MYR 102

52.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$86.1 MYR 352

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$53.8 MYR 220

42.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$495 MYR 2,026

100.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$305 MYR 1,247

120.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$837 MYR 3,422

303.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$534 MYR 2,185

283.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$2,029 MYR 8,300

38.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,175 MYR 4,806

89.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$1,149 MYR 4,698

-85.46%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $495 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 588% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $24.00 in Setia Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $204 – 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,377 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 45% less in Setia Alam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $196 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 $918, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $918 versus $1,408 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.