Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Skudai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Skudai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $809 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,238 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,667 in Skudai.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 74% more expensive than Skudai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Skudai is 40% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$3.47 MYR 13.71

-1.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$18.65 MYR 73.7

76.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$4.66 MYR 18.40

9.01%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$2.98 MYR 11.77

-5.37%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$0.73 MYR 2.89

87.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.37 MYR 1.46

91.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$3.50 MYR 13.84

-15.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$4.92 MYR 19.43

-20.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$1.87 MYR 7.40

-6.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$0.98 MYR 3.88

157.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$1.25 MYR 4.95

-3.20%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$1.88 MYR 7.41

23.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$10.54 MYR 41.65

37.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$3.55 MYR 14.01

22.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$8.36 MYR 33.02

44.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$2.77 MYR 10.96

37.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.51 MYR 5.97

6.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$2.50 MYR 9.87

8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$1.20 MYR 4.74

85.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$1.19 MYR 4.71

59.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$1.35 MYR 5.32

61.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$0.89 MYR 3.50

15.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$0.51 MYR 2.03

50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$4.32 MYR 17.08

-26.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$14.38 MYR 56.8

61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$2.73 MYR 10.79

4.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$2.94 MYR 11.61

-7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$0.74 MYR 2.91

-60.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

$11.95 MYR 47.21

-29.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$1.01 MYR 3.99

-51.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$0.99 MYR 3.93

-54.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$9.51 MYR 37.55

-33.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$0.47 MYR 1.85

80.85%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$31.5K MYR 124.4K

-17.27%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$27.6K MYR 109.1K

14.12%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$40.65 MYR 161

96.24%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$9.35 MYR 36.95

-56.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$22.69 MYR 89.6

6.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$36.95 MYR 146

160.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

$5.99 MYR 23.68

9.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$5.08 MYR 20.05

-18.70%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

$190 MYR 750

56.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

$6,814 MYR 26.9K

-2.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$49.26 MYR 195

11.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$18.59 MYR 73.5

108.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$60.1 MYR 237

49.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.05 MYR 186

67.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$386 MYR 1,527

163.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$271 MYR 1,071

143.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$635 MYR 2,507

441.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$473 MYR 1,868

334.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

$1,753 MYR 6,923

70.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

$880 MYR 3,477

168.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.07

226.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Last update for Skudai: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $386 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $19 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $219 per month, with Skudai cheaper across the board.

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 Skudai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Skudai differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $809 including rent). Skudai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,213 in Skudai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $386 in Skudai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $809 in Skudai – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skudai runs roughly 42% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $809 in Skudai versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Skudai but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Skudai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Skudai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Skudai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.