🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $976 in Kukes versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,436 in Kukes versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Kukes versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Kukes costs roughly 31% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kukes is 27% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38ALL 765
$3.45Rp 62.0K
171.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.26ALL 3,038
$32.34Rp 580.1K
15.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.90ALL 563
$4.84Rp 86.9K
42.56%
Cappuccino
$1.86ALL 151
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-32.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57ALL 128
$1.38Rp 24.8K
13.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82ALL 67.0
$0.75Rp 13.5K
9.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29ALL 187
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-23.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24ALL 264
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-15.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56ALL 127
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-10.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85ALL 69.3
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-65.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02ALL 164
$1.17Rp 21.0K
72.65%
Eggs
$3.04ALL 248
$2.43Rp 43.6K
25.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.29ALL 757
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-35.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.21ALL 588
$4.35Rp 78.0K
65.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.15ALL 664
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-31.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15ALL 94.0
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-69.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79ALL 146
$1.63Rp 29.2K
9.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99ALL 80.4
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-63.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39ALL 113
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-37.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74ALL 60.1
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-61.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79ALL 64.3
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-65.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93ALL 75.8
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-12.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72ALL 58.9
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.55ALL 290
$3.29Rp 58.9K
7.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27ALL 593
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-68.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91ALL 74.6
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-67.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ALL 140
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-37.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALL 40.11
$0.27Rp 4,778
81.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.63ALL 1,519
$8.11Rp 145.4K
129.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59ALL 293
$0.48Rp 8,659
647.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.16ALL 257
$0.42Rp 7,532
652.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.63ALL 377
$6.22Rp 111.6K
-25.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11ALL 172
$0.81Rp 14.6K
160.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KALL 2.9M
$26.6KRp 477.4M
31.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KALL 2.0M
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-22.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.8ALL 5,528
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-13.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.32ALL 1,413
$4.07Rp 73.0K
325.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.14ALL 1,316
$24.33Rp 436.4K
-33.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9ALL 4,476
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-44.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.12ALL 2,048
$6.34Rp 113.7K
296.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.46ALL 282
$3.99Rp 71.5K
-13.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.4ALL 7,776
$305Rp 5.5M
-68.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.24ALL 2,874
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-34.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.28ALL 1,898
$37.81Rp 678.2K
-38.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.26ALL 3,365
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-52.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2ALL 4,091
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-34.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442ALL 36.1K
$992Rp 17.8M
-55.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346ALL 28.2K
$673Rp 12.1M
-48.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$603ALL 49.1K
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-82.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429ALL 35.0K
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-79.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,835ALL 149.6K
$2,805Rp 50.3M
-34.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,204ALL 98.2K
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-45.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$520ALL 42.4K
$167Rp 3.0M
211.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
13.28
-69.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kukes: July 11, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Kukes and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kukes pays 212% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Kukes vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $297, with Kukes cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kukes vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Kukes?
Kukes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kukes or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 212% higher in Kukes, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kukes and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Kukes versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kukes runs roughly 130% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $95.4 in Kukes versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kukes or in Ubud, Bali?
At $976 in Kukes versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kukes but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kukes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kukes or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Kukes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kukes or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Kukes and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kukes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.