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 $861 per month in Kuantan vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,248 per month in Kuantan vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,635 per month in Kuantan vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Kuantan is about 38% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuantan sits 37% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.52 MYR 10.20

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

-25.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.50 MYR 50.6

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

-67.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 MYR 14.66

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

-34.24%

Cappuccino

$2.96 MYR 11.97

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

12.12%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

-58.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.80

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

-41.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MYR 11.19

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

5.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 MYR 23.62

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

36.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 MYR 6.44

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

2.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MYR 3.39

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

-62.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.09

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

33.63%

Eggs

$1.36 MYR 5.52

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

-34.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 38.94

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-44.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 MYR 13.26

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

-15.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.50 MYR 18.19

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

-64.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MYR 12.27

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

-16.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 MYR 7.90

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 MYR 10.98

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

15.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.15

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

-14.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 6.98

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-8.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.22

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

-13.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 MYR 3.04

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

-27.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$0.55 Rp 9,854

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.48

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

92.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.01 MYR 76.8

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-20.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 MYR 8.18

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

-12.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 MYR 7.89

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

-30.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MYR 2.09

$0.27 Rp 4,839

92.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.44 MYR 50.3

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

43.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$0.48 Rp 8,554

139.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.45 Rp 7,924

-15.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.10 MYR 36.80

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

59.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 MYR 2.14

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

-30.26%

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

$35.0K MYR 141.3K

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

42.78%

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

$33.0K MYR 133.5K

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

2.78%

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

$48.95 MYR 198

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-41.41%

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

$8.57 MYR 34.65

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

32.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 MYR 101

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

32.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.57 MYR 164

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

-27.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 MYR 28.48

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

-62.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MYR 19.08

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

10.28%

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

$281 MYR 1,136

$487 Rp 8.6M

-42.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 42.4K

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

79.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 MYR 214

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

15.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.79 MYR 120

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

-18.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 MYR 203

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-38.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.91 MYR 198

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-39.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 MYR 1,760

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-61.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 MYR 1,348

$701 Rp 12.5M

-52.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 MYR 2,843

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-80.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 MYR 2,033

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-71.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,044 MYR 8,264

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

-27.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 MYR 4,645

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

-49.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,001 MYR 4,046

$170 Rp 3.0M

489.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.15

13.78

-69.88%

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

Last update for Kuantan: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Kuantan versus $1,117 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 489% 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 $13.00 in Kuantan versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $293 – 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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Kuantan and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Kuantan and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.