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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $791 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,254 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,716 in Karlovo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 77% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Karlovo is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$7.28 BGN 12.12
-50.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$34.97 BGN 58.2
-7.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$8.69 BGN 14.46
-44.07%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$1.44 BGN 2.39
90.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.08 BGN 1.79
22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.66 BGN 1.10
6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$2.08 BGN 3.47
39.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$1.75 BGN 2.90
116.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.15 BGN 1.91
48.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.90 BGN 1.50
174.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.86 BGN 3.09
-35.48%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.29 BGN 5.48
-25.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$9.20 BGN 15.31
56.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$7.89 BGN 13.12
-45.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$6.06 BGN 10.09
101.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.33 BGN 2.22
176.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$2.07 BGN 3.44
-25.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$2.05 BGN 3.41
36.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$2.18 BGN 3.63
6.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.46 BGN 0.76
328.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$0.85 BGN 1.42
171.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.01 BGN 1.69
4.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.75 BGN 1.24
-2.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$3.48 BGN 5.78
-5.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$6.40 BGN 10.65
256.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.02 BGN 1.69
175.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.76 BGN 2.92
57.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$1.17 BGN 1.94
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$26.65 BGN 44.34
-69.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$1.20 BGN 2.00
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.68 BGN 1.12
-33.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$13.03 BGN 21.67
-52.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.49 BGN 2.47
-42.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$32.5K BGN 54.1K
-20.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$25.7K BGN 42.7K
23.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$94.8 BGN 158
-14.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$16.31 BGN 27.13
-75.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$12.80 BGN 21.30
90.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$29.67 BGN 49.36
229.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$14.63 BGN 24.34
-55.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$5.94 BGN 9.87
-31.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$232 BGN 385
31.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$4,128 BGN 6,867
60.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$30.03 BGN 49.95
80.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$11.63 BGN 19.35
233.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$59.6 BGN 99.1
44.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$48.09 BGN 80.0
59.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$292 BGN 486
237.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$192 BGN 319
243.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$466 BGN 776
622.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$356 BGN 592
480.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$1,544 BGN 2,569
77.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$1,276 BGN 2,122
74.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Karlovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$467 BGN 777
-65.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.57
190.59%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $292 in Karlovo. 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 186% higher in Karlovo, 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 $35.00 in Karlovo. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $202 in Karlovo – so Karlovo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Karlovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlovo cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,187 in Karlovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 231% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $232 in Karlovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Karlovo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Karlovo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Karlovo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlovo. 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.

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