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