🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $433 in Mardan versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in Mardan versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $844 in Mardan versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Mardan costs roughly 69% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mardan is 68% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13PKR 593
$3.57Rp 64.0K
-40.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.42PKR 4,010
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-55.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18PKR 1,441
$4.86Rp 87.1K
6.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79PKR 497
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86PKR 1,074
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.00PKR 556
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-27.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 86.2
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-76.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 60.9
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-68.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81PKR 224
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-52.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66PKR 185
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-73.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85PKR 235
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-29.17%
Eggs
$1.15PKR 320
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-52.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.23PKR 1,733
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-56.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.38PKR 661
$4.31Rp 77.1K
-44.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.26PKR 907
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-73.30%
Apples(1kg)
$0.69PKR 192
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-81.25%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55PKR 154
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-64.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94PKR 263
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-66.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 92.2
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-85.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.24PKR 66.1
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-87.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33PKR 92.9
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-85.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 91.8
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-68.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.12PKR 34.05
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-83.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.46PKR 405
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92PKR 255
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96PKR 544
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38PKR 384
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-57.93%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 45.73
$0.29Rp 5,217
-44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.25PKR 2,016
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-10.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.45Rp 8,047
-17.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.45Rp 8,094
-17.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.75PKR 487
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-71.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 265
$0.85Rp 15.2K
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KPKR 5.8M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-19.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KPKR 7.3M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112PKR 31.2K
$80.8Rp 1.4M
38.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.62PKR 1,562
$4.06Rp 72.7K
38.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99PKR 5,280
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-22.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.30PKR 3,420
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-87.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.78PKR 1,607
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-10.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13PKR 1,147
$4.04Rp 72.4K
2.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$17.76PKR 4,937
$304Rp 5.4M
-94.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,095PKR 304.3K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-83.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.73PKR 6,043
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-59.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.38PKR 7,891
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-26.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3PKR 24.3K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$17.89PKR 4,973
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-76.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$73.9PKR 20.5K
$986Rp 17.7M
-92.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.5PKR 14.6K
$658Rp 11.8M
-92.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164PKR 45.5K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-95.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 29.9K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-94.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$774PKR 215.2K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-71.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$424PKR 118.0K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-80.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mardan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$268PKR 74.4K
$163Rp 2.9M
63.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
13.28
52.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mardan: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Mardan and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mardan pays 64% 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 Mardan vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $79.0 vs $297 per month, with Mardan 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
Mardan vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Mardan?
Mardan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 224% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mardan or Ubud, Bali?
Mardan pays 64% more on average, 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 Mardan and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $73.9 in Mardan versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $17.76 in Mardan versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mardan and Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 274% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mardan or Ubud, Bali?
At $433 in Mardan versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mardan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mardan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mardan or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Mardan 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, Mardan or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mardan 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 Mardan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.