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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $461 in Karad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $699 in Karad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $937 in Karad.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 197% more expensive than in Karad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Karad is 66% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$2.08 ₹199
65.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$10.41 ₹999
248.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$4.08 ₹391
39.95%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$2.72 ₹261
-1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$0.41 ₹39.08
326.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$0.14 ₹13.42
521.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$2.68 ₹257
10.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$4.20 ₹403
7.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$0.70 ₹67.2
131.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$0.50 ₹47.80
366.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$0.77 ₹73.9
44.16%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$0.94 ₹90.6
134.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$5.42 ₹520
226.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$3.58 ₹344
14.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$2.26 ₹217
64.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$0.74 ₹71.1
114.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$1.18 ₹113
93.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$0.47 ₹45.50
314.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$0.36 ₹34.80
430.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$0.37 ₹35.31
529.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.47 ₹44.95
114.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$0.31 ₹30.03
77.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$5.07 ₹487
-56.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$8.37 ₹803
175.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$2.07 ₹198
16.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$3.11 ₹298
-3.54%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.78 ₹554
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$0.29 ₹28.03
-6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
$7.49 ₹719
19.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$0.32 ₹31.12
50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$0.30 ₹28.53
43.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$1.54 ₹148
266.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.13 ₹108
-29.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$16.1K ₹1.5M
54.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$22.0K ₹2.1M
44.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$61.9 ₹5,936
31.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$4.32 ₹414
50.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$9.10 ₹873
106.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$12.17 ₹1,168
367.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
$6.65 ₹638
181.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$4.65 ₹446
-2.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$48.73 ₹4,675
886.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$1,404 ₹134.7K
306.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$35.06 ₹3,364
29.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$22.57 ₹2,165
58.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$57.3 ₹5,494
40.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$46.94 ₹4,504
67.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$123 ₹11.8K
808.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$75.7 ₹7,259
822.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$266 ₹25.5K
1267.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$188 ₹18.1K
821.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
$887 ₹85.1K
213.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
$515 ₹49.4K
344.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Karad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8.33
65.43%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Karad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $123 in Karad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $10.00 in Karad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $117 per month, with Karad 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 Karad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Karad?
Ubud, Bali and Karad differ by about 197% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $461 including rent). Karad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Karad?
You'd need roughly $2,052 in Ubud, Bali and $691 in Karad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Karad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $123 in Karad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Karad?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $461 in Karad – a 197% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Karad?
A monthly transit pass in Karad runs roughly 20% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $461 in Karad versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karad but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Karad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Karad?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Karad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Karad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Karad?
Expats usually find Karad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 197% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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