🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $961 in Kukes versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Kukes versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,845 in Kukes versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Kukes costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kukes is 28% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35ALL 765
$3.56Rp 63.7K
162.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.52ALL 3,070
$32.73Rp 584.5K
14.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.26ALL 594
$4.95Rp 88.4K
46.67%
Cappuccino
$1.85ALL 152
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-31.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59ALL 130
$1.34Rp 24.0K
18.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87ALL 70.8
$0.70Rp 12.5K
24.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29ALL 188
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-21.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19ALL 261
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-19.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55ALL 127
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-14.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79ALL 64.3
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-68.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03ALL 166
$1.16Rp 20.7K
75.00%
Eggs
$2.95ALL 241
$2.46Rp 43.9K
19.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18ALL 751
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-37.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91ALL 565
$4.32Rp 77.1K
59.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.04ALL 658
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-33.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15ALL 93.8
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-70.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79ALL 146
$1.56Rp 27.8K
14.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93ALL 75.9
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-67.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.32ALL 108
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-43.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70ALL 57.2
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-63.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85ALL 69.2
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-61.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96ALL 78.4
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-4.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70ALL 57.0
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45ALL 282
$3.32Rp 59.2K
3.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.18ALL 587
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-69.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93ALL 75.7
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73ALL 142
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-39.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45ALL 37.20
$0.27Rp 4,800
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.63ALL 1,524
$8.03Rp 143.4K
132.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57ALL 292
$0.46Rp 8,150
676.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20ALL 261
$0.45Rp 8,037
611.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.78ALL 391
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-21.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09ALL 171
$0.79Rp 14.2K
164.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KALL 2.8M
$26.1KRp 467.0M
33.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KALL 2.1M
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-20.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.9ALL 5,473
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-16.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.14ALL 1,403
$4.06Rp 72.6K
322.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.64ALL 1,279
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-33.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1ALL 4,590
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-43.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.00ALL 2,045
$6.63Rp 118.4K
277.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62ALL 296
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-12.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.5ALL 7,729
$304Rp 5.4M
-68.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.96ALL 2,942
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-35.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.35ALL 1,911
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-39.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.74ALL 3,333
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-54.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.40ALL 4,041
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-36.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$457ALL 37.4K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-54.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347ALL 28.4K
$675Rp 12.1M
-48.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613ALL 50.2K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-82.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429ALL 35.1K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-78.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995ALL 163.2K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-29.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,333ALL 109.0K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-41.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kukes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534ALL 43.7K
$165Rp 3.0M
223.09%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $457 in Kukes and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kukes pays 223% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Kukes vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $302, 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 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kukes or Ubud, Bali?
Kukes pays 223% more on average, 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: $457 in Kukes versus $1,006 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 132% 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 $94.5 in Kukes versus $304 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 Kukes or Ubud, Bali?
At $961 in Kukes versus $1,419 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 48% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.