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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 168% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Islamabad is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$2.80 PKR 779

27.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$14.22 PKR 3,955

130.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-9.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$2.00 PKR 557

35.50%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$0.43 PKR 119

211.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.22 PKR 61.1

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$0.94 PKR 260

92.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$0.62 PKR 173

306.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$1.21 PKR 338

-4.13%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$1.20 PKR 335

105.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$6.07 PKR 1,689

142.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$3.39 PKR 942

27.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

$4.38 PKR 1,218

177.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$1.03 PKR 287

272.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$0.78 PKR 216

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$0.93 PKR 260

204.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$0.60 PKR 166

288.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$0.41 PKR 115

365.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$0.54 PKR 149

307.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$0.34 PKR 93.3

197.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$0.37 PKR 103

110.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$2.14 PKR 596

55.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$0.19 PKR 52.2

42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

$6.90 PKR 1,921

16.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

$0.86 PKR 238

-46.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,116

$0.44 PKR 122

2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$2.81 PKR 782

117.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.91 PKR 253

-13.19%

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

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

21.57%

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

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

22.84%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$112 PKR 31.1K

-28.46%

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

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-25.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

$18.81 PKR 5,234

25.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$22.19 PKR 6,174

344.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

$6.04 PKR 1,679

9.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-1.43%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

404.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

135.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$21.57 PKR 5,999

157.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$27.63 PKR 7,686

38.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

0.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

95.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

$198 PKR 55.1K

408.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$112 PKR 31.1K

504.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$513 PKR 142.6K

571.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$296 PKR 82.3K

588.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

83.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$657 PKR 182.9K

244.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$387 PKR 107.8K

-57.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

20.2

-34.26%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $198 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 134% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $98.0 – 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 168%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $794 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 208% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $14.00 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 $529, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.