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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $795 in Kuantan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,177 in Kuantan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,560 in Kuantan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 79% more than Kuantan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Kuantan is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$2.35 MYR 9.37

51.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$11.75 MYR 46.88

178.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$3.47 MYR 13.86

42.65%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.21 MYR 8.83

22.62%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.66 MYR 2.65

103.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.34 MYR 1.34

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$3.58 MYR 14.27

-18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$5.30 MYR 21.16

-25.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.68 MYR 6.71

7.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.07 MYR 4.26

135.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.06 MYR 4.22

9.43%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.23 MYR 4.92

100.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$10.00 MYR 39.91

47.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.48 MYR 13.89

24.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$5.99 MYR 23.89

102.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$3.00 MYR 11.98

28.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.77 MYR 7.05

-11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.94 MYR 11.73

-3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$2.03 MYR 8.09

14.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.26 MYR 5.04

51.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.03 MYR 4.12

113.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.74 MYR 2.95

36.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.54 MYR 2.17

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.32 MYR 17.23

-23.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$20.51 MYR 81.8

15.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.94 MYR 7.75

43.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$1.94 MYR 7.74

47.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.46 MYR 1.83

-41.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$20.31 MYR 81.0

-60.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$1.03 MYR 4.10

-55.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.37 MYR 1.49

21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$4.18 MYR 16.66

45.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.46 MYR 1.82

71.74%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$33.2K MYR 132.4K

-21.21%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$31.8K MYR 126.8K

1.07%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$23.18 MYR 92.5

244.87%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$9.52 MYR 37.99

-57.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$21.18 MYR 84.5

11.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$36.75 MYR 147

168.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$5.75 MYR 22.95

15.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$4.06 MYR 16.21

2.22%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$119 MYR 476

154.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$4,303 MYR 17.2K

53.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$72.0 MYR 287

-22.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$27.88 MYR 111

37.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$37.02 MYR 148

139.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.66 MYR 190

63.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$167 MYR 668

501.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$270 MYR 1,077

150.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$209 MYR 833

1547.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$472 MYR 1,881

332.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,947 MYR 7,767

45.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$958 MYR 3,824

136.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,003 MYR 4,002

-83.53%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuantan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 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 507% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Kuantan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $219 – 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 79%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,192 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 $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $119 in Kuantan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $795, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.