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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $779 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,241 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,703 in Karlovo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 85% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Karlovo is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$7.43 BGN 12.41

-51.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$36.05 BGN 60.2

-9.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$9.08 BGN 15.17

-44.16%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.50 BGN 2.51

88.67%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$1.12 BGN 1.87

19.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.71 BGN 1.18

-2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.03 BGN 3.39

47.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$1.78 BGN 2.98

116.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.19 BGN 1.99

46.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.89 BGN 1.49

185.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.93 BGN 3.22

-38.34%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$3.37 BGN 5.63

-27.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$9.53 BGN 15.91

53.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$8.17 BGN 13.64

-48.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$5.75 BGN 9.61

107.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.32 BGN 2.21

179.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$2.07 BGN 3.46

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.05 BGN 3.42

31.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$2.18 BGN 3.65

6.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.49 BGN 0.82

289.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$0.86 BGN 1.43

154.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.02 BGN 1.70

3.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.75 BGN 1.26

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$3.51 BGN 5.86

-10.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$5.83 BGN 9.73

302.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.02 BGN 1.70

168.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$1.79 BGN 2.99

60.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$1.15 BGN 1.92

-74.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$26.95 BGN 45.01

-69.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-62.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.66 BGN 1.11

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$13.31 BGN 22.24

-53.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.46 BGN 2.44

-42.47%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$31.7K BGN 53.0K

-17.31%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$25.8K BGN 43.1K

25.71%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$93.2 BGN 156

-15.88%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$16.33 BGN 27.28

-75.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$13.00 BGN 21.70

87.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$29.20 BGN 48.76

230.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$14.97 BGN 25.01

-57.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$5.73 BGN 9.56

-29.49%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$233 BGN 390

29.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$4,072 BGN 6,801

60.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$29.93 BGN 49.98

79.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$11.99 BGN 20.03

216.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$58.1 BGN 97.0

49.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.80 BGN 79.8

64.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$293 BGN 489

245.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$198 BGN 330

241.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$478 BGN 798

609.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$355 BGN 593

490.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,528 BGN 2,552

95.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$1,054 BGN 1,761

121.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$487 BGN 813

-64.43%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $293 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 181% 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 $36.00 in Karlovo. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $204 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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 85%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,169 in Karlovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 230% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $233 in Karlovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.