😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,544 in Basel versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,518 in Basel versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,492 in Basel versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Basel is roughly 157% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Basel157% above, Ubud, Bali0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.93CHF 24.42
$3.33Rp 58.7K
798.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125CHF 102
$35.82Rp 630.7K
250.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.69CHF 15.25
$5.63Rp 99.1K
231.97%
Cappuccino
$6.73CHF 5.49
$2.82Rp 49.7K
138.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33CHF 5.17
$1.75Rp 30.8K
261.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86CHF 4.78
$0.80Rp 14.0K
632.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.34CHF 7.62
$3.04Rp 53.6K
207.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07CHF 8.22
$4.30Rp 75.7K
134.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CHF 1.89
$1.61Rp 28.3K
44.10%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05CHF 2.49
$2.27Rp 39.9K
34.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32CHF 2.71
$1.17Rp 20.6K
183.76%
Eggs
$8.34CHF 6.80
$2.17Rp 38.2K
284.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.21CHF 21.39
$17.63Rp 310.5K
48.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$27.85CHF 22.73
$4.05Rp 71.4K
587.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.56CHF 34.73
$12.18Rp 214.5K
249.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66CHF 2.99
$3.62Rp 63.7K
1.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40CHF 1.96
$1.64Rp 28.8K
46.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99CHF 2.44
$2.31Rp 40.6K
29.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83CHF 3.94
$1.96Rp 34.5K
146.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79CHF 1.46
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95CHF 1.59
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-17.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33CHF 1.90
$1.05Rp 18.5K
121.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66CHF 1.36
$0.54Rp 9,560
207.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.63CHF 9.49
$2.30Rp 40.6K
405.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.24CHF 9.99
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-46.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49CHF 2.03
$2.34Rp 41.2K
6.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18CHF 2.59
$3.07Rp 54.0K
3.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.44CHF 3.63
$0.25Rp 4,365
1676.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$108CHF 88.3
$9.42Rp 165.9K
1048.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.99CHF 6.52
$0.49Rp 8,631
1530.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.59CHF 3.75
$0.47Rp 8,349
876.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.0CHF 71.8
$5.60Rp 98.6K
1471.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29CHF 1.87
$0.81Rp 14.2K
182.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.2KCHF 36.1K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
76.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KCHF 32.3K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
27.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$299CHF 244
$82.7Rp 1.5M
260.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3CHF 43.47
$6.49Rp 114.2K
720.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.0CHF 53.9
$18.79Rp 330.8K
251.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.8CHF 70.0
$55.2Rp 972.6K
55.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.0CHF 48.17
$18.21Rp 320.6K
224.16%
Cinema Ticket
$23.81CHF 19.44
$4.30Rp 75.7K
453.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,026CHF 2,470
$494Rp 8.7M
512.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.3KCHF 27.1K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
462.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$147CHF 120
$46.28Rp 814.8K
216.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.6CHF 66.6
$36.44Rp 641.6K
123.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$164CHF 134
$80.7Rp 1.4M
102.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199CHF 162
$78.8Rp 1.4M
152.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141CHF 1,747
$1,114Rp 19.6M
92.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,528CHF 1,247
$693Rp 12.2M
120.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,615CHF 2,950
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-0.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,890CHF 2,358
$1,712Rp 30.1M
68.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.4KCHF 15.0K
$2,761Rp 48.6M
566.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.5KCHF 11.8K
$2,293Rp 40.4M
533.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,336CHF 5,987
$167Rp 2.9M
4290.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.43
13.78
-82.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Basel: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,141 in Basel and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Basel pays 4290% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $125 in Basel vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $597 vs $294 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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
Basel vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Basel or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 157% lower than in Basel. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Basel or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 4290% higher in Basel, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Basel compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,141 in Basel versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Basel and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $3,026 in Basel versus $494 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Basel or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 103% higher in Basel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Basel or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,544 in Basel, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Basel. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Basel or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Basel compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Basel and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.