🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Karachi costs roughly 66% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Karachi is 64% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14PKR 595
$3.56Rp 63.9K
-39.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44PKR 3,461
$32.73Rp 586.8K
-61.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.06PKR 1,129
$4.95Rp 88.7K
-17.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99PKR 553
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22PKR 1,451
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.89PKR 525
$2.71Rp 48.6K
-30.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.34Rp 24.1K
-73.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-67.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.92Rp 52.3K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.96Rp 70.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83PKR 231
$1.81Rp 32.4K
-54.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58PKR 161
$2.52Rp 45.1K
-76.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13PKR 315
$1.16Rp 20.8K
-2.59%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 337
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-50.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.29PKR 1,749
$14.71Rp 263.7K
-57.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19PKR 887
$4.32Rp 77.4K
-26.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.91PKR 1,365
$12.14Rp 217.5K
-59.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$3.84Rp 68.8K
-73.18%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58PKR 162
$1.56Rp 27.9K
-62.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 258
$2.83Rp 50.8K
-67.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 156
$2.33Rp 41.7K
-75.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$1.91Rp 34.3K
-79.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 141
$2.20Rp 39.5K
-76.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38PKR 107
$1.01Rp 18.2K
-62.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 120
$0.78Rp 13.9K
-44.87%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.28PKR 356
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26PKR 351
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08PKR 580
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08PKR 580
$3.32Rp 59.4K
-37.35%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.74Rp 425.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.79Rp 50.0K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86Rp 51.3K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34PKR 94.4
$0.27Rp 4,819
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.33PKR 1,762
$8.03Rp 143.9K
-21.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74PKR 205
$0.46Rp 8,181
60.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61PKR 171
$0.45Rp 8,068
35.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.79PKR 497
$6.10Rp 109.3K
-70.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92PKR 256
$0.79Rp 14.2K
16.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KPKR 4.6M
$26.1KRp 468.8M
-37.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KPKR 6.8M
$32.1KRp 575.8M
-23.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132PKR 36.8K
$79.9Rp 1.4M
65.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.90PKR 1,362
$4.06Rp 72.9K
20.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.63PKR 3,791
$23.52Rp 421.6K
-42.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.55PKR 4,325
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-84.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.33PKR 3,986
$6.63Rp 118.8K
116.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.33PKR 1,203
$4.15Rp 74.3K
4.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.0PKR 16.1K
$304Rp 5.4M
-80.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,402PKR 389.9K
$6,613Rp 118.5M
-78.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.73PKR 4,932
$55.5Rp 995.6K
-68.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51PKR 7,097
$38.31Rp 686.7K
-33.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.2PKR 17.8K
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-27.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.86PKR 9,975
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-53.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122PKR 33.8K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-87.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$73.9PKR 20.6K
$675Rp 12.1M
-89.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$323PKR 89.8K
$3,442Rp 61.7M
-90.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182PKR 50.6K
$2,039Rp 36.6M
-91.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$985PKR 273.9K
$2,841Rp 50.9M
-65.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$457PKR 127.2K
$2,264Rp 40.6M
-79.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$181PKR 50.2K
$165Rp 3.0M
9.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.8
13.28
34.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Karachi pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $302 per month, with Karachi 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
Karachi vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karachi and Ubud, Bali?
Karachi and Ubud, Bali differ by about 198% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $1,419 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Karachi or Ubud, Bali?
Karachi pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Karachi and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karachi or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 198% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 27% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $477 in Karachi versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karachi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Karachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Karachi and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Karachi or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karachi 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.
Where should expats move: Karachi or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 198% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.