🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $270 in Palakkad versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $499 in Palakkad versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $728 in Palakkad versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Palakkad costs roughly 81% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Palakkad is 80% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.43₹135
$3.57Rp 61.9K
-59.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.51₹998
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-67.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.83₹269
$5.07Rp 87.8K
-44.18%
Cappuccino
$0.86₹81.6
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-69.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₹45.70
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-64.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹14.86
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-76.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50₹142
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-49.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37₹225
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-38.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.52₹49.82
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-70.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49₹46.29
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-80.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.47₹44.68
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-60.50%
Eggs
$0.86₹81.8
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-64.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.08₹577
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-58.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.40₹228
$4.18Rp 72.4K
-42.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.41₹134
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-61.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.47₹45.04
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-70.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.75₹71.3
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-72.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51₹48.01
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-78.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49₹46.35
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-74.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58₹55.1
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-73.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60₹56.7
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-43.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.05
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32₹315
$3.13Rp 54.3K
6.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.36₹319
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-85.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50₹143
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-45.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33₹316
$2.88Rp 49.9K
15.63%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$4.52₹429
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15₹14.16
$0.29Rp 5,029
-48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.06₹386
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-50.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46₹43.64
$0.45Rp 7,863
2.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.42Rp 7,305
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₹108
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-81.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₹110
$0.84Rp 14.6K
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.2K₹1.3M
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-46.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K₹2.2M
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-28.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.53₹2,993
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-59.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.71₹257
$3.95Rp 68.5K
-31.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.63₹724
$24.40Rp 423.0K
-68.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.71₹1,207
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-86.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20₹684
$6.35Rp 110.0K
13.39%
Cinema Ticket
$2.67₹254
$4.04Rp 70.0K
-33.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$11.79₹1,120
$303Rp 5.2M
-96.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,923₹182.5K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-70.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.63₹1,958
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-61.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.83₹1,408
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-60.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$32.61₹3,096
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-62.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.05₹2,948
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-60.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$124₹11.8K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-87.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$23.65₹2,246
$674Rp 11.7M
-96.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273₹25.9K
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-91.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181₹17.2K
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-91.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$946₹89.8K
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-68.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$555₹52.7K
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-76.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palakkad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$351₹33.4K
$173Rp 3.0M
103.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
13.28
-39.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Palakkad: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Palakkad and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Palakkad pays 103% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Palakkad vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91.0 vs $298 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 433% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Palakkad pays 103% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $124 in Palakkad versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Palakkad vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Palakkad runs roughly 101% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $11.79 in Palakkad versus $303 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $270 in Palakkad versus $1,438 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 $270 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 433% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.