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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $396 in Karnal versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $646 in Karnal versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $897 in Karnal versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Karnal costs roughly 72% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Karnal is 70% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.00 ₹193
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
-42.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.41 ₹1,004
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
-67.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.95 ₹284
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
-39.05%
Cappuccino
$2.23 ₹215
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
-18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹41.57
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
-68.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 ₹12.44
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-82.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 ₹169
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
-41.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₹258
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
-30.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 ₹66.1
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-60.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₹47.77
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
-79.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 ₹83.8
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
-25.64%
Eggs
$1.13 ₹109
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
-53.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.97 ₹576
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-58.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 ₹342
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
-18.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹209
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
-41.67%
Banana (1kg)
$0.79 ₹76.3
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-51.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹101
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
-61.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.46 ₹44.15
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
-79.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ₹23.06
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
-87.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 ₹28.51
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
-86.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ₹64.3
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-36.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹30.35
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-56.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 ₹436
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
37.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 ₹847
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-62.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₹150
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-44.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₹230
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-12.45%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.84 ₹659
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹29.06
$0.27 Rp 4,786
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.69 ₹838
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
7.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 ₹35.33
$0.48 Rp 8,675
-22.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.12 ₹11.65
$0.42 Rp 7,545
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ₹229
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
-61.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ₹107
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,254 ₹892.4K
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
-65.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K ₹2.7M
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-14.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.49 ₹3,326
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-55.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.15 ₹400
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
1.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.64 ₹544
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
-76.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.03 ₹1,546
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-83.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.05 ₹680
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
11.20%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 ₹275
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
-28.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.6 ₹8,733
$305 Rp 5.5M
-70.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,696 ₹163.6K
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
-74.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.96 ₹2,503
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-52.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.63 ₹2,568
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
-29.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.2 ₹5,422
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-35.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.82 ₹3,358
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-54.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$124 ₹11.9K
$992 Rp 17.8M
-87.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$75.0 ₹7,228
$673 Rp 12.1M
-88.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ₹26.0K
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-92.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 ₹17.4K
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-91.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,162 ₹112.1K
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-58.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$368 ₹35.5K
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-83.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karnal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$435 ₹42.0K
$167 Rp 3.0M
160.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.88
13.28
-33.13%

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

Last update for Karnal: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Karnal and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karnal pays 161% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Karnal vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $297 per month, with Karnal 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
Karnal vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Karnal?
Karnal is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 256% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Karnal or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 161% higher in Karnal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Karnal and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $124 in Karnal versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Karnal or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Karnal – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Karnal and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $396 per month in Karnal versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 256% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Karnal or in Ubud, Bali?
At $396 in Karnal versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karnal but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Karnal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Karnal or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Karnal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Karnal or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Karnal 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Karnal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 256% 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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