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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 137% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Islamabad is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

$3.57 PKR 990

-5.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$22.74 PKR 6,309

69.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$5.47 PKR 1,517

0.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$2.39 PKR 663

10.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$0.32 PKR 90.0

421.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.22 PKR 60.8

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$0.99 PKR 275

56.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$0.79 PKR 220

181.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$1.28 PKR 354

-11.72%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$1.28 PKR 356

63.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

$6.11 PKR 1,695

184.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

$3.06 PKR 849

26.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

$5.12 PKR 1,421

145.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

$1.34 PKR 371

170.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$0.84 PKR 232

85.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$1.02 PKR 282

130.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$0.49 PKR 135

320.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$0.29 PKR 81.2

555.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

$0.33 PKR 90.4

609.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$0.29 PKR 80.8

255.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

$0.38 PKR 106

44.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$2.28 PKR 632

-1.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

$0.16 PKR 44.31

68.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

$21.23 PKR 5,889

-59.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

$1.27 PKR 353

-62.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$0.69 PKR 191

-34.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

$1.65 PKR 459

246.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.32 PKR 365

-42.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-54.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

27.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$102 PKR 28.3K

-18.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

$5.83 PKR 1,618

10.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

$16.34 PKR 4,534

16.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

$29.09 PKR 8,071

92.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

$8.93 PKR 2,478

108.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-14.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 Rp 8.6M

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

548.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

15.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

$23.55 PKR 6,532

93.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

$32.68 PKR 9,066

11.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-1.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

104.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$277 PKR 76.8K

303.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$144 PKR 40.0K

385.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

$577 PKR 160.1K

512.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

$266 PKR 73.9K

562.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

72.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

$829 PKR 230.1K

176.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$381 PKR 105.8K

-55.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

13.08

5.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $277 in Islamabad. 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 125% higher in Islamabad, 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $103 – making Islamabad 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

Ubud, Bali vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 137%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 185% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Islamabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Islamabad. 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.