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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $873 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,333 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,793 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 61% more than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Shah Alam is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.97 MYR 12.16

16.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$18.70 MYR 76.5

72.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$4.13 MYR 16.90

17.19%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.73 MYR 11.15

0.73%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.72 MYR 2.93

91.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.36 MYR 1.49

108.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$3.59 MYR 14.70

-16.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$4.31 MYR 17.62

-10.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.80 MYR 7.38

-3.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.99 MYR 4.06

148.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.49 MYR 6.10

-21.48%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$2.03 MYR 8.29

19.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$14.35 MYR 58.7

1.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$5.07 MYR 20.73

-14.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$7.92 MYR 32.41

51.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.80 MYR 11.45

32.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.50 MYR 6.13

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$2.55 MYR 10.43

7.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.24 MYR 5.09

80.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.13 MYR 4.61

69.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.34 MYR 5.49

70.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.91 MYR 3.73

16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.52 MYR 2.13

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.13 MYR 16.88

-20.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$18.60 MYR 76.1

24.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.65 MYR 10.86

4.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$4.00 MYR 16.36

-31.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.74 MYR 3.03

-63.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$15.20 MYR 62.2

-46.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.95 MYR 3.90

-49.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.54 MYR 2.20

-22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$7.21 MYR 29.47

-13.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.49 MYR 2.01

65.31%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$33.6K MYR 137.6K

-20.88%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$27.4K MYR 112.2K

17.39%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$41.19 MYR 168

90.22%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$10.07 MYR 41.20

-59.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$30.14 MYR 123

-19.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$38.85 MYR 159

153.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$5.82 MYR 23.81

8.93%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$6.37 MYR 26.04

-37.36%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$210 MYR 861

44.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$6,234 MYR 25.5K

6.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$50.0 MYR 205

8.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$34.92 MYR 143

8.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$61.0 MYR 249

42.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$49.48 MYR 202

54.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$372 MYR 1,521

166.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$266 MYR 1,087

153.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$586 MYR 2,398

475.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$482 MYR 1,970

325.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$1,505 MYR 6,155

86.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,208 MYR 4,942

84.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$1,252 MYR 5,120

-86.66%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 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 650% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Shah Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $248 – 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 61%, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,310 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 $32.00 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $873 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 $873, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.