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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $795 per month in Kuantan vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,177 per month in Kuantan vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,560 per month in Kuantan vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kuantan is about 44% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuantan sits 41% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35 MYR 9.37
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
-33.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.75 MYR 46.88
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
-64.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.47 MYR 13.86
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
-29.90%
Cappuccino
$2.21 MYR 8.83
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
-18.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MYR 2.65
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
-50.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MYR 1.34
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-51.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.58 MYR 14.27
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
22.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30 MYR 21.16
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
33.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MYR 6.71
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
-7.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 MYR 4.26
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
-57.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 MYR 4.22
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
-8.62%
Eggs
$1.23 MYR 4.92
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.00 MYR 39.91
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
-32.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 MYR 13.89
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
-19.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.99 MYR 23.89
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
-50.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 MYR 11.98
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
-21.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 MYR 7.05
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
13.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 MYR 11.73
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
3.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MYR 8.09
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
-12.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 MYR 5.04
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-34.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 MYR 4.12
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
-53.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 MYR 2.95
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
-26.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MYR 2.17
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 MYR 17.23
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
30.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.51 MYR 81.8
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
-13.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 MYR 7.75
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
-30.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 MYR 7.74
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
-32.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MYR 1.83
$0.27 Rp 4,819
70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.31 MYR 81.0
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
152.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 MYR 4.10
$0.46 Rp 8,181
123.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 MYR 1.49
$0.45 Rp 8,068
-17.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.18 MYR 16.66
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
-31.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.82
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-41.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K MYR 132.4K
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
26.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K MYR 126.8K
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.18 MYR 92.5
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-71.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.52 MYR 37.99
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
134.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.18 MYR 84.5
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
-9.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.75 MYR 147
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-62.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.75 MYR 22.95
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
-13.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.06 MYR 16.21
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
-2.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 MYR 476
$304 Rp 5.4M
-60.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,303 MYR 17.2K
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
-34.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 MYR 287
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
29.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.88 MYR 111
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
-27.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.02 MYR 148
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-58.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.66 MYR 190
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-38.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$167 MYR 668
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-83.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 MYR 1,077
$675 Rp 12.1M
-60.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 MYR 833
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
-93.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$472 MYR 1,881
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
-76.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,947 MYR 7,767
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
-31.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$958 MYR 3,824
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
-57.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuantan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,003 MYR 4,002
$165 Rp 3.0M
507.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.62
13.28
-72.74%

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

Last update for Kuantan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Kuantan versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. 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 507% higher in Kuantan, 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 $12.00 in Kuantan versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $302 – making Kuantan 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
Kuantan vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Kuantan?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,192 per month in Kuantan and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $119 per month in Kuantan and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Kuantan and Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 38% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kuantan or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $795, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kuantan or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kuantan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kuantan or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kuantan. 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.

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