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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $367 in Karaikal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $555 in Karaikal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $743 in Karaikal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 282% more than Karaikal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Karaikal is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$0.84 ₹79.9

325.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$11.86 ₹1,128

174.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.18 ₹398

16.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$0.68 ₹64.9

304.41%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.36 ₹34.61

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.18 ₹17.57

288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.09 ₹103

166.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$1.79 ₹170

111.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.54 ₹51.8

216.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.36 ₹34.52

586.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.57 ₹54.3

110.53%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$0.76 ₹72.3

221.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$2.93 ₹279

390.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$2.95 ₹280

46.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.43 ₹136

157.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.45 ₹43.21

244.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$0.78 ₹74.2

257.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.22 ₹20.83

959.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.22 ₹20.80

795.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.36 ₹34.54

541.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.17 ₹16.14

523.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.30 ₹28.74

143.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$3.11 ₹295

5.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$3.12 ₹297

630.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.37 ₹131

105.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.27 ₹216

22.47%

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

$4.16 ₹396

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.28 ₹26.30

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$8.88 ₹845

-9.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.14 ₹108

-60.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.22 ₹20.83

104.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$1.19 ₹113

424.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.11 ₹105

-23.42%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$9,394 ₹893.3K

176.56%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$10.6K ₹1.0M

197.86%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$47.12 ₹4,481

71.37%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$1.76 ₹167

130.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$7.00 ₹666

248.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$7.65 ₹728

1176.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$6.96 ₹662

-7.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$2.98 ₹284

35.57%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$23.31 ₹2,217

1204.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$1,779 ₹169.2K

272.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$11.41 ₹1,085

375.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$23.11 ₹2,198

67.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$40.52 ₹3,854

112.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$28.97 ₹2,755

164.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$205 ₹19.5K

380.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$127 ₹12.1K

417.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$309 ₹29.4K

989.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$243 ₹23.1K

749.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$160 ₹15.2K

1293.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$420 ₹40.0K

-61.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.31

42.64%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Karaikal: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $205 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 157% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Karaikal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $75.0 – 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 282% 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $551 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 294% 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 $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 $367, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $367 versus $1,404 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.