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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $868 in Tawau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,322 in Tawau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,776 in Tawau, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 62% more than Tawau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$3.47 MYR 13.70

-1.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$18.87 MYR 74.5

74.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$4.15 MYR 16.41

22.41%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$2.24 MYR 8.83

25.89%

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

$0.36 MYR 1.43

97.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$2.34 MYR 9.26

26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$3.24 MYR 12.81

20.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$1.53 MYR 6.05

14.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$1.37 MYR 5.43

83.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$1.67 MYR 6.61

-27.54%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$2.07 MYR 8.16

12.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$15.18 MYR 60.0

-4.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$4.23 MYR 16.71

3.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$9.64 MYR 38.06

25.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$2.84 MYR 11.20

34.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.52 MYR 6.02

5.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$2.52 MYR 9.94

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$1.38 MYR 5.46

61.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$1.23 MYR 4.85

54.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$1.29 MYR 5.08

68.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$1.04 MYR 4.10

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$0.56 MYR 2.23

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$4.35 MYR 17.18

-26.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$19.25 MYR 76.1

20.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$2.79 MYR 11.00

2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$2.89 MYR 11.42

-5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$0.72 MYR 2.85

-59.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

$11.88 MYR 46.93

-29.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$1.15 MYR 4.55

-57.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$1.02 MYR 4.04

-55.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$5.93 MYR 23.44

5.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$0.46 MYR 1.83

84.78%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$35.2K MYR 139.0K

-25.97%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$31.7K MYR 125.3K

-0.64%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$43.44 MYR 172

83.63%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$9.23 MYR 36.46

-55.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$29.51 MYR 117

-18.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$37.18 MYR 147

158.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

$5.98 MYR 23.61

9.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$2.82 MYR 11.13

46.45%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

$184 MYR 727

61.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

$6,823 MYR 27.0K

-2.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$61.8 MYR 244

-11.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$27.81 MYR 110

39.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$73.4 MYR 290

22.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$51.5 MYR 203

53.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$393 MYR 1,551

159.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$272 MYR 1,075

142.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$640 MYR 2,529

436.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$465 MYR 1,837

341.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

$1,911 MYR 7,550

55.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

$908 MYR 3,586

160.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

$434 MYR 1,714

-60.36%

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 Tawau: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $393 in Tawau. 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 152% higher in Tawau, 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $19 in Tawau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $255 – making Tawau 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 Tawau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 62% more than Tawau, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,302 in Tawau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

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

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tawau, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Tawau 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. Tawau costs $868 versus $1,408 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 Tawau. 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.