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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $476 in Karachi versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Karachi versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,009 in Karachi versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 65% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Karachi is 65% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.20 PKR 609
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
-36.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.66 PKR 3,785
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
-62.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.54 PKR 1,536
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
-2.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 PKR 595
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 PKR 2,039
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.23 PKR 617
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
-16.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 99.3
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-79.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 PKR 72.4
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
-70.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 PKR 234
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-47.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 PKR 154
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-76.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 332
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
8.11%
Eggs
$1.22 PKR 338
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
-44.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.24 PKR 1,727
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-64.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 PKR 860
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
-24.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 PKR 1,761
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
-47.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.27 PKR 351
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
-65.77%
Banana (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 150
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
-66.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 287
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
-54.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 PKR 168
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
-68.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.32 PKR 88.2
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
-83.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 84.4
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-87.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 PKR 110
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-60.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKR 120
$0.55 Rp 9,773
-21.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.28 PKR 355
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 PKR 381
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 PKR 666
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.82 PKR 503
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
-18.39%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PKR 77.4
$0.27 Rp 4,814
3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.08 PKR 2,239
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-10.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 PKR 205
$0.48 Rp 8,566
54.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 PKR 204
$0.43 Rp 7,679
72.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 PKR 583
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
-62.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 PKR 366
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
65.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K PKR 5.0M
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
-27.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K PKR 7.5M
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
-14.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 PKR 30.2K
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
33.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.83 PKR 1,614
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
-10.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.96 PKR 3,589
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
-30.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.39 PKR 5,927
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-62.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.82 PKR 5,214
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
0.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 PKR 1,178
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
-6.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$50.1 PKR 13.9K
$481 Rp 8.5M
-89.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,571 PKR 435.2K
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
-72.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.72 PKR 4,355
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
-65.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.45 PKR 6,218
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
-37.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.5 PKR 19.0K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-14.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.80 PKR 10.7K
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-50.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 30.8K
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-90.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$72.9 PKR 20.2K
$698 Rp 12.4M
-89.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$327 PKR 90.5K
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-91.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 PKR 50.1K
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-89.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,018 PKR 281.9K
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
-63.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$484 PKR 134.2K
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-78.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karachi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 PKR 49.2K
$168 Rp 3.0M
5.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.88
13.78
-6.53%

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

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Karachi vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $295 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Karachi and Ubud, Bali differ by about 188% in total monthly costs ($476 vs $1,368 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?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Karachi, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $111 in Karachi versus $1,115 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 $476 per month in Karachi versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 188% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Karachi and in Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 11% 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 $476 in Karachi versus $1,368 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 188% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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