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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $857 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,310 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,763 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 66% more than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Shah Alam is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$3.02 MYR 12.05

17.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$18.93 MYR 75.5

72.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.13 MYR 16.47

19.85%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.73 MYR 10.88

-0.73%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.72 MYR 2.89

86.11%

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

$3.44 MYR 13.72

-15.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$4.43 MYR 17.68

-10.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.88 MYR 7.50

-3.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.94 MYR 3.76

168.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.50 MYR 5.99

-22.67%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.06 MYR 8.21

19.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$14.26 MYR 56.9

3.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$4.94 MYR 19.72

-12.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$8.09 MYR 32.26

50.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$2.83 MYR 11.27

35.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.46 MYR 5.81

6.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.58 MYR 10.28

9.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.21 MYR 4.85

92.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.18 MYR 4.70

61.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.40 MYR 5.59

57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.89 MYR 3.55

13.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.57 MYR 2.26

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.17 MYR 16.62

-20.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$19.18 MYR 76.5

23.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$2.65 MYR 10.57

5.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$3.81 MYR 15.21

-24.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.69 MYR 2.76

-60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$15.28 MYR 61.0

-47.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.96 MYR 3.81

-52.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.54 MYR 2.17

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$7.13 MYR 28.45

-14.45%

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

$33.5K MYR 133.7K

-21.94%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$27.7K MYR 110.5K

15.93%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$41.35 MYR 165

93.33%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$10.16 MYR 40.52

-60.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$30.62 MYR 122

-23.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$38.96 MYR 155

153.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$5.98 MYR 23.87

10.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$6.36 MYR 25.39

-34.75%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$213 MYR 849

42.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$6,253 MYR 25.0K

5.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$49.63 MYR 198

11.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$34.84 MYR 139

9.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$61.3 MYR 245

44.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$48.83 MYR 195

59.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$372 MYR 1,485

170.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$266 MYR 1,061

154.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$576 MYR 2,299

497.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$481 MYR 1,919

323.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,553 MYR 6,195

82.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$1,223 MYR 4,880

85.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,263 MYR 5,040

-86.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.16

219.23%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $372 in Shah 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 664% higher in Shah 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 $19.00 in Shah Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $249 – making Shah 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 Shah Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,286 in Shah Alam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Shah Alam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $857 in Shah Alam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shah Alam, where all-in costs run around $857, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Shah Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shah Alam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Shah 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.