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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $774 in Kuantan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,170 in Kuantan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,565 in Kuantan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 82% more than Kuantan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Kuantan is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.37 MYR 9.70

45.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$11.90 MYR 48.68

171.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$3.49 MYR 14.29

38.68%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.24 MYR 9.17

22.77%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.66 MYR 2.71

109.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.34 MYR 1.37

120.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$3.44 MYR 14.08

-13.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$5.54 MYR 22.67

-30.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.66 MYR 6.79

4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$1.08 MYR 4.41

127.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.05 MYR 4.30

11.43%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.31 MYR 5.34

85.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$10.11 MYR 41.35

43.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$3.38 MYR 13.82

28.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$6.19 MYR 25.31

93.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.87 MYR 11.74

29.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.79 MYR 7.33

-8.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$3.02 MYR 12.37

-9.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$2.04 MYR 8.35

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.33 MYR 5.44

44.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.01 MYR 4.13

125.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.68 MYR 2.78

55.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.52 MYR 2.11

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.31 MYR 17.64

-23.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$19.31 MYR 79.0

20.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.85 MYR 7.59

50.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$1.92 MYR 7.86

42.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.46 MYR 1.86

-41.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$19.99 MYR 81.8

-59.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.01 MYR 4.15

-52.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.40 MYR 1.64

5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$4.25 MYR 17.37

46.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.49 MYR 2.00

65.31%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$32.4K MYR 132.3K

-17.75%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$31.1K MYR 127.1K

3.58%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$23.97 MYR 98.0

226.87%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$9.31 MYR 38.09

-56.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$21.38 MYR 87.4

13.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$37.35 MYR 153

164.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$6.03 MYR 24.68

5.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$4.12 MYR 16.86

-3.16%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$116 MYR 474

163.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$4,346 MYR 17.8K

52.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$69.7 MYR 285

-22.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$27.78 MYR 114

36.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$37.84 MYR 155

129.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$47.25 MYR 193

61.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$167 MYR 685

492.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$266 MYR 1,087

153.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$211 MYR 862

1501.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$466 MYR 1,907

339.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$2,099 MYR 8,583

33.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,163 MYR 4,756

91.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$985 MYR 4,028

-83.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

3.62

266.85%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kuantan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $167 in Kuantan. 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 490% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Kuantan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $217 – 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

Ubud, Bali vs Kuantan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 82%, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,161 in Kuantan. 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 $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $116 in Kuantan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $774, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.