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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $370 per month in Karaikal vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $563 per month in Karaikal vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $755 per month in Karaikal vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Karaikal is about 74% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Karaikal sits 72% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.78 ₹74.7
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
-78.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.74 ₹1,125
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
-64.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.01 ₹384
$4.95 Rp 89.2K
-18.99%
Cappuccino
$0.72 ₹68.6
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
-73.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₹32.54
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
-74.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 ₹17.59
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-74.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ₹104
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
-63.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 ₹168
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
-55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.52 ₹49.78
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
-71.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 ₹35.06
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
-85.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.57 ₹54.8
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
-50.86%
Eggs
$0.71 ₹68.3
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
-71.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.89 ₹277
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
-80.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.98 ₹285
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
-31.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 ₹132
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
-64.06%
Banana (1kg)
$0.49 ₹47.06
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
-68.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 ₹74.0
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
-72.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.24 ₹23.00
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-89.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ₹23.11
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
-87.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.88
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
-83.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.18 ₹17.34
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
-82.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₹29.14
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
-61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 ₹287
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
-9.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.08 ₹295
$23.74 Rp 428.0K
-87.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₹138
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-48.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₹222
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
-18.88%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$4.17 ₹399
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹28.87
$0.27 Rp 4,848
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.77 ₹839
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
9.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₹114
$0.46 Rp 8,230
158.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₹23.12
$0.45 Rp 8,116
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₹112
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
-80.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₹105
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
39.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,316 ₹892.3K
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
-64.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.5K ₹1.0M
$32.1K Rp 579.2M
-67.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.07 ₹4,508
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-41.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.71 ₹164
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
-57.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.82 ₹653
$23.52 Rp 424.1K
-71.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.65 ₹733
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-92.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ₹659
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
3.77%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83 ₹271
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
-31.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$23.19 ₹2,221
$304 Rp 5.5M
-92.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,743 ₹167.0K
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
-73.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.68 ₹1,119
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
-78.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.93 ₹2,196
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
-40.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.33 ₹3,958
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-53.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.67 ₹2,746
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-63.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$201 ₹19.2K
$1,006 Rp 18.1M
-80.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 ₹12.2K
$675 Rp 12.2M
-81.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$308 ₹29.5K
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
-91.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 ₹23.7K
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
-87.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$156 ₹15.0K
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
-93.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karaikal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$417 ₹40.0K
$165 Rp 3.0M
152.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.31
13.28
-29.89%

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

Last update for Karaikal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Karaikal versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. 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 153% higher in Karaikal, 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 $12.00 in Karaikal versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $75.0 vs $302 – making Karaikal 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
Karaikal vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Karaikal or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 283% more than Karaikal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Karaikal vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $555 per month in Karaikal and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Karaikal or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaikal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Karaikal or Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 300% 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.
How do dining costs compare in Karaikal vs Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Karaikal and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Karaikal or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaikal, where all-in costs run around $370, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Karaikal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Karaikal or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karaikal costs $370 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Karaikal compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Karaikal or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Karaikal. 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.

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