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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $295 in Karaikal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $465 in Karaikal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $634 in Karaikal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 363% more than Karaikal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Karaikal is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$0.71 ₹68.4

384.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$12.30 ₹1,180

195.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$3.63 ₹348

57.30%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$0.65 ₹62.1

310.77%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.20 ₹19.18

775.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.15 ₹14.07

480.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$0.91 ₹87.2

224.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$1.55 ₹149

191.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$0.46 ₹44.36

252.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.30 ₹28.60

676.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.52 ₹50.0

113.46%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$0.64 ₹61.1

243.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$2.60 ₹249

580.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$2.56 ₹246

60.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$1.23 ₹118

201.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$0.43 ₹41.45

269.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$0.70 ₹66.9

225.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$0.15 ₹14.55

1200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$0.22 ₹21.14

768.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.28 ₹26.82

732.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.14 ₹13.76

621.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.27 ₹26.17

103.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$2.65 ₹254

-15.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$3.12 ₹299

639.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.23 ₹118

96.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$2.04 ₹196

47.06%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$3.70 ₹355

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.27 ₹25.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$7.38 ₹708

21.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$1.01 ₹96.9

-52.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$0.20 ₹19.16

115.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$1.06 ₹102

432.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.03 ₹98.6

-22.33%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$8,412 ₹807.0K

196.54%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$9,277 ₹890.0K

241.82%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$38.50 ₹3,694

111.58%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$1.57 ₹151

313.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$6.28 ₹602

198.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$6.64 ₹637

756.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$6.28 ₹602

198.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$2.44 ₹234

86.07%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$20.98 ₹2,013

2191.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$2,122 ₹203.6K

169.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$10.24 ₹982

344.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$16.82 ₹1,613

113.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$35.41 ₹3,397

127.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$26.11 ₹2,505

201.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$145 ₹13.9K

670.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$93.1 ₹8,929

649.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$221 ₹21.2K

1548.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$179 ₹17.2K

868.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$934 ₹89.6K

197.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$508 ₹48.7K

351.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$422 ₹40.5K

-60.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.5

45.05%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Karaikal: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $145 in Karaikal. 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 151% higher in Karaikal, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Karaikal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $67.0 – making Karaikal 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 Karaikal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 363% more than Karaikal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $443 in Karaikal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 343% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $12.00 in Karaikal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaikal, where all-in costs run around $295, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Karaikal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karaikal costs $295 versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Karaikal. 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.