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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $824 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,297 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,770 in Karlovo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 67% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Karlovo is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$7.38 BGN 12.28

-55.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$34.96 BGN 58.2

11.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$9.04 BGN 15.04

-37.83%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$1.44 BGN 2.40

83.33%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$1.12 BGN 1.86

41.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.72 BGN 1.19

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

$2.13 BGN 3.54

28.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

$1.75 BGN 2.91

146.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$1.14 BGN 1.90

35.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$0.93 BGN 1.55

147.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$1.86 BGN 3.10

-44.62%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$3.43 BGN 5.71

-38.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$9.52 BGN 15.84

81.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$8.10 BGN 13.48

-50.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

$5.76 BGN 9.58

115.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$1.31 BGN 2.18

182.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$2.08 BGN 3.46

-22.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$2.05 BGN 3.42

10.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$2.21 BGN 3.68

-9.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$0.46 BGN 0.76

297.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$0.88 BGN 1.46

155.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$1.03 BGN 1.72

0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.78 BGN 1.30

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$3.51 BGN 5.84

-36.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

$7.08 BGN 11.78

227.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

$1.05 BGN 1.76

127.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

$1.90 BGN 3.17

51.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-78.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

$24.57 BGN 40.88

-70.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$1.17 BGN 1.94

-60.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$0.75 BGN 1.25

-38.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$12.49 BGN 20.78

-54.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$1.49 BGN 2.48

-48.99%

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

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$30.5K BGN 50.7K

-19.37%

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

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$22.9K BGN 38.2K

35.21%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$108 BGN 179

-23.65%

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

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$14.88 BGN 24.76

-57.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$12.25 BGN 20.39

51.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$31.62 BGN 52.6

77.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

$17.62 BGN 29.31

4.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$6.01 BGN 10.00

-29.12%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$239 BGN 398

104.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$6,135 BGN 10.2K

-5.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$29.25 BGN 48.66

57.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$12.07 BGN 20.08

197.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$59.7 BGN 99.4

33.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.17 BGN 78.5

71.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$339 BGN 564

237.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$195 BGN 324

254.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$575 BGN 956

514.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$408 BGN 679

318.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

$1,402 BGN 2,333

98.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

$1,075 BGN 1,789

110.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$470 BGN 782

-64.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

3.25

324.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $339 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 178% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $35.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $206 – making Karlovo 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 Karlovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 67%, 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 $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,236 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 243% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Ubud, Bali and $239 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 $824, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. 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.