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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 188% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Karachi is 64% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$2.06 PKR 572

73.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$12.15 PKR 3,373

166.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$4.00 PKR 1,111

25.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$1.85 PKR 513

52.43%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.33 PKR 92.7

309.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.23 PKR 64.0

217.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$0.84 PKR 232

111.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$0.58 PKR 162

322.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.12 PKR 310

2.68%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$1.17 PKR 325

105.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$6.28 PKR 1,744

128.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$3.18 PKR 884

31.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$5.03 PKR 1,396

139.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$1.05 PKR 291

246.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$0.59 PKR 165

166.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$0.92 PKR 256

203.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$0.54 PKR 149

314.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$0.35 PKR 98.2

465.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$0.47 PKR 130

385.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.35 PKR 97.8

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.44 PKR 121

79.55%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$2.08 PKR 578

53.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$0.36 PKR 100

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$6.42 PKR 1,782

30.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$0.69 PKR 190

-34.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$0.66 PKR 184

-30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$1.73 PKR 480

250.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.92 PKR 254

-6.52%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

58.08%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

31.51%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$133 PKR 36.8K

-40.42%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$4.86 PKR 1,349

-15.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$13.62 PKR 3,779

75.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$15.31 PKR 4,250

545.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

$14.55 PKR 4,038

-56.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$4.11 PKR 1,142

-2.43%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

416.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

375.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$17.46 PKR 4,847

206.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$25.90 PKR 7,188

47.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

39.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

110.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$119 PKR 33.0K

756.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

799.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$318 PKR 88.2K

992.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$185 PKR 51.3K

1031.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$912 PKR 253.2K

199.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

$442 PKR 122.5K

419.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$179 PKR 49.7K

-8.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

17.8

-25.39%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $97.0 per month, with Karachi 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

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

Ubud, Bali and Karachi differ by about 188% in total monthly costs ($1,392 vs $483 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Karachi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $483 in Karachi – a 188% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 30% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $483 in Karachi versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karachi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Karachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 188% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.