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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $753 in Kukes versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Kukes versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,513 in Kukes versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kukes costs roughly 45% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kukes is 45% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 ALL 306
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
16.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.80 ALL 1,801
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
-36.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.69 ALL 607
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
36.59%
Cappuccino
$1.51 ALL 119
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
-46.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 ALL 108
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
-21.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ALL 54.8
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
-13.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.88 ALL 148
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
-38.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ALL 178
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-47.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ALL 131
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
3.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ALL 67.4
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-62.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 ALL 164
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
76.92%
Eggs
$2.75 ALL 217
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
26.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 ALL 766
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-44.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.42 ALL 586
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
83.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.92 ALL 862
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
-10.34%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 ALL 77.8
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
-72.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 ALL 156
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
20.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 ALL 82.1
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-54.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 ALL 134
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
-13.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ALL 62.8
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-57.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ALL 85.7
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-54.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ALL 86.2
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
3.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ALL 52.8
$0.54 Rp 9,560
24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 ALL 357
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
96.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.79 ALL 615
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-66.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ALL 87.5
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-52.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ALL 132
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-45.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 ALL 38.95
$0.25 Rp 4,365
96.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.48 ALL 1,617
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
117.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ALL 307
$0.49 Rp 8,631
693.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.97 ALL 313
$0.47 Rp 8,349
744.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 ALL 394
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
-11.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 ALL 179
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
180.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K ALL 2.7M
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
36.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K ALL 2.0M
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-17.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.3 ALL 4,998
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
-23.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.46 ALL 1,300
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
153.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.83 ALL 1,408
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
-5.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 ALL 4,589
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
5.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.75 ALL 1,007
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-29.98%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 ALL 307
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-9.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$103 ALL 8,134
$494 Rp 8.7M
-79.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.62 ALL 2,971
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
-18.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.63 ALL 2,261
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
-21.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.3 ALL 4,054
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-36.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.62 ALL 3,524
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-43.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$240 ALL 19.0K
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-78.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ALL 13.8K
$693 Rp 12.2M
-74.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$287 ALL 22.6K
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-92.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 ALL 16.8K
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-87.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ALL 151.2K
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-30.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,264 ALL 99.9K
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-44.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$545 ALL 43.0K
$167 Rp 2.9M
226.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.78
-63.72%

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

Last update for Kukes: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Kukes and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kukes pays 226% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Kukes vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $294 per month, with Kukes cheaper across the board.

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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kukes or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 226% 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: $240 in Kukes versus $1,114 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 117% 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 $103 in Kukes versus $494 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 $753 in Kukes versus $1,378 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 83% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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