🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $245 in Palakkad versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $442 in Palakkad versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $639 in Palakkad versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Palakkad costs roughly 82% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Palakkad is 82% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.24₹119
$3.44Rp 60.9K
-63.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19₹881
$36.31Rp 643.0K
-74.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.66₹255
$5.71Rp 101.0K
-53.42%
Cappuccino
$0.79₹76.0
$2.67Rp 47.3K
-70.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₹32.19
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-80.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹14.94
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-81.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.38₹132
$2.95Rp 52.3K
-53.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53₹146
$4.52Rp 80.0K
-66.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.47₹45.41
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-70.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45₹43.14
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-80.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.48₹45.97
$1.11Rp 19.6K
-56.76%
Eggs
$0.88₹84.7
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-60.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.24₹407
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-76.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.93₹185
$4.10Rp 72.5K
-52.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.18Rp 215.6K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.32₹126
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-64.42%
Banana(1kg)
$0.42₹40.59
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-73.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69₹66.0
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-69.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45₹43.18
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-76.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40₹38.46
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-79.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50₹47.83
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-78.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50₹48.15
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-50.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28₹26.57
$0.55Rp 9,773
-49.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₹285
$2.23Rp 39.5K
33.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.41₹327
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-85.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32₹126
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01₹288
$3.00Rp 53.1K
0.33%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.03₹386
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17₹16.08
$0.27Rp 4,814
-37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.78₹363
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-57.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.40₹38.85
$0.48Rp 8,566
-16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹26.01
$0.43Rp 7,679
-37.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.05₹196
$5.64Rp 99.9K
-63.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08₹103
$0.80Rp 14.2K
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.7K₹1.2M
$24.9KRp 441.7M
-49.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K₹2.9M
$31.7KRp 561.5M
-5.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.38₹3,394
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-56.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.53₹243
$6.49Rp 115.0K
-61.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.73₹742
$18.77Rp 332.4K
-58.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.86₹1,233
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-77.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.47₹620
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-65.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.14₹206
$4.54Rp 80.4K
-52.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$10.56₹1,013
$481Rp 8.5M
-97.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,074₹199.0K
$5,711Rp 101.1M
-63.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.03₹1,730
$45.52Rp 806.0K
-60.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.37₹1,283
$35.88Rp 635.4K
-62.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.09₹2,791
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-63.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.40₹2,629
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-65.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122₹11.7K
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-89.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$23.47₹2,252
$698Rp 12.4M
-96.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$264₹25.4K
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-92.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$169₹16.2K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-90.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$966₹92.7K
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-65.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$510₹48.9K
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-77.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$366₹35.1K
$168Rp 3.0M
117.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
13.78
-41.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Palakkad: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Palakkad and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Palakkad pays 118% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Palakkad vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $78.0 vs $295 per month, with Palakkad 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
Palakkad vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Palakkad or Ubud, Bali?
Palakkad wins on cost – living expenses run 458% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Palakkad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Palakkad or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 118% higher in Palakkad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Palakkad compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Palakkad versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Palakkad compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Palakkad runs roughly 138% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Palakkad and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $10.56 in Palakkad versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Palakkad or in Ubud, Bali?
At $245 in Palakkad versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Palakkad but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Palakkad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Palakkad or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Palakkad delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $245 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Palakkad hard to pass up.
How safe is Palakkad compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Palakkad 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Palakkad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 458% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.