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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $893 in Taiping, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,169 in Taiping, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,444 in Taiping, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 54% more than Taiping, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Taiping is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$1.96 MYR 7.96

69.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$24.65 MYR 100

45.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$4.37 MYR 17.77

28.83%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.53 MYR 6.23

84.31%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.59 MYR 2.40

196.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.26 MYR 1.06

207.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.90 MYR 11.81

4.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.08 MYR 20.65

-15.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.57 MYR 6.38

2.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.85 MYR 3.47

167.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.61 MYR 2.50

91.80%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.35 MYR 5.49

60.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$15.53 MYR 63.2

13.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.67 MYR 19.00

-13.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$8.28 MYR 33.67

47.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.92 MYR 11.88

23.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.88 MYR 7.64

-12.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$2.42 MYR 9.83

-4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.66 MYR 6.76

18.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$1.15 MYR 4.69

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.45 MYR 5.91

63.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.77 MYR 3.14

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.48 MYR 1.94

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.41 MYR 17.95

-47.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$19.41 MYR 79.0

18.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$3.47 MYR 14.12

-32.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$5.03 MYR 20.44

-38.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.73 MYR 2.97

-65.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$8.43 MYR 34.30

11.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.13 MYR 4.61

-56.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.39 MYR 1.57

20.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$4.86 MYR 19.76

15.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.50 MYR 2.03

62.00%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$33.3K MYR 135.5K

-24.91%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$28.5K MYR 115.8K

9.16%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$63.6 MYR 259

30.08%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$5.53 MYR 22.52

17.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$26.20 MYR 107

-28.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$18.76 MYR 76.3

194.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$2.54 MYR 10.32

616.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.72 MYR 19.22

-8.90%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$126 MYR 512

292.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$8,824 MYR 35.9K

-32.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$49.90 MYR 203

-7.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$31.36 MYR 128

16.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$56.3 MYR 229

43.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$49.52 MYR 201

59.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$126 MYR 512

784.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$326 MYR 1,327

112.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$354 MYR 1,439

928.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$272 MYR 1,105

530.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$2,029 MYR 8,255

36.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,114 MYR 4,533

105.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$565 MYR 2,297

-70.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

3.95

248.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Taiping: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $126 in Taiping. 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 238% higher in Taiping, 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 $25.00 in Taiping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $252 – making Taiping 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 Taiping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 54% more than Taiping, 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 $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,340 in Taiping. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 12% less in Taiping. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $126 in Taiping. 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 Taiping, where all-in costs run around $893, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Taiping 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. Taiping costs $893 versus $1,378 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 Taiping. 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.