Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Mardan

For one person, living is cheaper in Mardan: $502 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Mardan, Pakistan
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Mardan
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$502
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Mardan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $502 in Mardan.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Mardan $502

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $788 in Mardan.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Mardan $788

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,074 in Mardan.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Mardan $1,074

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 169% more expensive than in Mardan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$3.53 PKR 978
-5.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
$23.47 PKR 6,495
51.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
$5.44 PKR 1,504
1.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.66 PKR 1,013
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.77 PKR 1,872
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$2.55 PKR 705
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
$0.34 PKR 94.7
400.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.23 PKR 63.9
230.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$0.90 PKR 250
65.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$0.78 PKR 216
192.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.29 PKR 358
-7.75%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$1.22 PKR 337
67.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
$2.93 PKR 811
504.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
$3.17 PKR 878
24.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
$3.72 PKR 1,029
227.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
$0.87 PKR 240
320.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$0.73 PKR 203
108.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$1.03 PKR 286
116.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$0.35 PKR 96.5
462.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$0.27 PKR 74.2
585.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$0.38 PKR 106
536.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.28 PKR 77.2
253.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,303
$0.35 PKR 96.0
45.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.79 PKR 496
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20 PKR 333
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.32 PKR 642
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$1.84 PKR 508
20.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,548
$0.20 PKR 54.5
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
$10.72 PKR 2,966
-27.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,964
$1.27 PKR 352
-65.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,793
$0.69 PKR 190
-37.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
$1.60 PKR 442
238.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$1.05 PKR 292
-21.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
$21.8K PKR 6.0M
9.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
$23.6K PKR 6.5M
34.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$104 PKR 28.7K
-23.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
$6.02 PKR 1,666
7.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
$16.99 PKR 4,701
9.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
$12.89 PKR 3,566
283.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
$8.04 PKR 2,223
119.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
$4.89 PKR 1,353
-12.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$42.07 PKR 11.6K
1066.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
$1,058 PKR 292.8K
436.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
$25.98 PKR 7,188
71.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
$34.63 PKR 9,583
0.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$96.3 PKR 26.7K
-17.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$40.12 PKR 11.1K
97.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$134 PKR 37.1K
738.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$86.0 PKR 23.8K
681.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
$264 PKR 73.1K
1248.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
$182 PKR 50.3K
847.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$865 PKR 239.3K
215.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$578 PKR 159.9K
295.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mardan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
13.08
5.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mardan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Mardan
$86 87.2% $586
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Mardan
$84 70.8% $204
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Mardan
$77 28.1% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Mardan
$89 17.5% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Mardan
$127 21.6% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Mardan
$23 60.9% $35
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Mardan
$16 42% $4.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $134 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $23 in Mardan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $84 per month, with Mardan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇵🇰 Mardan
🕒 Local time
10:37 10:37 AM
07:37 7:37 AM
3 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
358,604
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 309 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Mardan 6,580 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Mardan

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 Mardan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mardan cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Mardan is about 63% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,023 in Ubud, Bali and $753 in Mardan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Mardan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $134 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $491 in Ubud, Bali versus $42 in Mardan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Mardan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 243% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Mardan?
At $502 in Mardan versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mardan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mardan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Mardan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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