Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Karaikal

For one person, living is cheaper in Karaikal: $300 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Karaikal, India
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Karaikal
🇮🇳 India
$300
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Karaikal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Karaikal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $300 in Karaikal, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Karaikal $300

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $469 in Karaikal, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Karaikal $469

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $638 in Karaikal, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Karaikal $638

Ubud, Bali costs about 349% more than Karaikal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$0.71 ₹67.3
367.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
$12.53 ₹1,190
184.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
$3.66 ₹348
51.09%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$0.61 ₹57.7
345.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
$0.20 ₹18.98
750.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.15 ₹14.50
406.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$0.98 ₹93.0
170.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
$1.59 ₹151
175.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$0.50 ₹47.51
198.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$0.30 ₹28.93
660.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.49 ₹46.15
142.86%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$0.64 ₹61.2
218.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
$2.60 ₹247
580.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
$2.66 ₹252
48.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
$1.27 ₹121
188.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$0.43 ₹40.86
253.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$0.76 ₹72.4
193.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$0.17 ₹16.00
1058.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$0.22 ₹20.91
740.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$0.28 ₹26.42
764.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.14 ₹13.11
607.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,303
$0.25 ₹23.72
104.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$2.77 ₹263
-19.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
$3.07 ₹292
624.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.25 ₹118
80.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
$2.13 ₹202
39.44%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$3.74 ₹355
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,548
$0.22 ₹20.84
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
$7.17 ₹681
9.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,964
$1.07 ₹102
-58.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,793
$0.22 ₹20.92
95.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
$1.03 ₹97.9
425.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$1.02 ₹97.3
-19.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
$8,356 ₹793.4K
185.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
$9,625 ₹913.9K
229.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$37.93 ₹3,601
108.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
$1.58 ₹150
308.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
$6.36 ₹603
192.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
$6.64 ₹631
645.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
$6.38 ₹606
176.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
$2.39 ₹227
78.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$21.28 ₹2,021
2205.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
$2,141 ₹203.3K
164.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
$10.30 ₹978
333.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
$17.07 ₹1,620
104.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$35.55 ₹3,375
124.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$25.89 ₹2,458
206.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$149 ₹14.1K
656.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$91.3 ₹8,668
635.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
$220 ₹20.9K
1517.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
$178 ₹16.9K
867.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$956 ₹90.8K
185.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$536 ₹50.9K
326.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Karaikal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$417 ₹39.6K
-60.70%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Karaikal: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Karaikal
$91 86.4% $580
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Karaikal
$68 76.5% $221
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Karaikal
$33 69% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Karaikal
$40 62.8% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Karaikal
$46 55.9% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Karaikal
$11 80.3% $47
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Karaikal
$10 10.5% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $149 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 in Karaikal are about 2.5 times higher, 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $13 in Karaikal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $68 – making Karaikal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇳 Karaikal
🕒 Local time
03:20 3:20 AM
00:50 12:50 AM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
10,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 94.95 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Karaikal 4,470 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Karaikal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Karaikal?
Ubud, Bali costs about 349% more than Karaikal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Karaikal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $450 in Karaikal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Karaikal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaikal, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $149 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Karaikal?
Groceries cost about 325% more in Ubud, Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Karaikal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali and $13 in Karaikal. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Ubud, Bali or in Karaikal?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Karaikal, where all-in costs run around $300, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Karaikal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Karaikal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Karaikal?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Karaikal is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 78% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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