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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $973 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,443 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,913 in Setia Alam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 41% more than Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Setia Alam is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$5.06 MYR 20.64
-32.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$24.14 MYR 98.5
50.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$5.01 MYR 20.46
13.97%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$3.08 MYR 12.59
-13.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$0.81 MYR 3.32
116.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$0.44 MYR 1.79
97.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$4.46 MYR 18.21
-33.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$6.07 MYR 24.77
-25.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.87 MYR 7.61
-13.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$0.70 MYR 2.87
232.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.06 MYR 4.32
4.72%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$1.81 MYR 7.39
21.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$4.94 MYR 20.16
258.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$4.23 MYR 17.28
-3.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$9.66 MYR 39.42
26.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$1.34 MYR 5.46
176.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$1.94 MYR 7.90
-18.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$1.37 MYR 5.60
66.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$1.50 MYR 6.11
30.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$1.30 MYR 5.32
46.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$1.32 MYR 5.40
76.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.64 MYR 2.59
57.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$0.56 MYR 2.29
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$4.45 MYR 18.18
-49.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$18.82 MYR 76.8
22.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$3.45 MYR 14.08
-29.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$4.94 MYR 20.17
-39.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$0.77 MYR 3.15
-64.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
$12.46 MYR 50.9
-27.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$1.25 MYR 5.11
-61.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$0.50 MYR 2.03
-14.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$5.04 MYR 20.57
11.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$0.64 MYR 2.63
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$42.5K MYR 173.4K
-41.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$35.3K MYR 144.2K
-10.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$61.6 MYR 251
32.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$9.48 MYR 38.70
-31.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$26.31 MYR 107
-28.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$58.3 MYR 238
-2.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
$6.42 MYR 26.19
191.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$5.34 MYR 21.80
-14.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$177 MYR 722
171.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$11.0K MYR 44.9K
-48.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$70.7 MYR 289
-35.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$25.51 MYR 104
40.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$89.2 MYR 364
-9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$54.4 MYR 222
44.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$515 MYR 2,104
116.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$322 MYR 1,314
116.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$860 MYR 3,513
322.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$545 MYR 2,223
219.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
$2,025 MYR 8,266
37.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
$1,122 MYR 4,581
104.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Setia Alam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$1,132 MYR 4,621
-85.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.12
234.47%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $515 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 574% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $24.00 in Setia Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $214 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Setia Alam?
Ubud, Bali costs about 41% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Setia Alam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,460 in Setia Alam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Setia Alam?
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.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Setia Alam?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Setia Alam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Setia Alam?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $177 in Setia Alam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Setia Alam?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Setia Alam, where all-in costs run around $973, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Setia Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Setia Alam?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Setia Alam costs $973 versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Setia Alam?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Setia Alam?
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.

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