Kota Bharu vs Kuantan
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Kota Bharu leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Kuantan where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Kuantan's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Kota Bharu | Kuantan |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 62 | 63 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 46 | 46 |
| Climate | 79 | 82 |
| Safety | 64 | 64 |
| Summer °C | 28.2 | 27.6 |
| Winter °C | 25.8 | 25.5 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Kota Bharu vs Kuantan: the short answer
Kuantan comes out ahead on overall livability (63/100), only marginally above Kota Bharu (62/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Kuantan is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Kota Bharu 46 vs Kuantan 46, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Kota Bharu runs warmer in summer (about 28.2°C peak vs 27.6°C in Kuantan), while winter lows sit near 25.8°C in Kota Bharu and 25.5°C in Kuantan. On natural-disaster exposure Kuantan is the safer choice (safety 64/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Kota Bharu and flooding for Kuantan.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Kuantan — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Kota Bharu — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Kuantan — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Kuantan — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Kota Bharu or Kuantan better to live in?
Kuantan scores higher overall — 63 vs 62 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Kota Bharu or Kuantan?
Kuantan has the lower cost of living (cost index 46 vs 46; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Kota Bharu or Kuantan?
Kota Bharu — summer highs reach about 28.2°C versus 27.6°C in Kuantan.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Kota Bharu or Kuantan?
Kuantan (disaster-safety 64/100). Main hazard: flooding in Kota Bharu, flooding in Kuantan.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Kota Bharu?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Kota Bharu on our risk index.
How is the Kota Bharu vs Kuantan comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.