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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,653 in Basel versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,857 in Basel versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,062 in Basel versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Basel is roughly 157% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Basel 173% above, Ubud, Bali 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.72 CHF 24.24
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
762.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$156 CHF 123
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
375.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.37 CHF 15.28
$4.95 Rp 89.2K
291.31%
Cappuccino
$6.75 CHF 5.33
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
149.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67 CHF 4.47
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
323.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 CHF 3.96
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
617.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.09 CHF 7.96
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
245.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45 CHF 5.88
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
88.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.77
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
23.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 CHF 2.95
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
48.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.99 CHF 3.94
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
330.17%
Eggs
$8.16 CHF 6.44
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
231.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.67 CHF 22.62
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
94.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$35.93 CHF 28.36
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
731.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$43.12 CHF 34.03
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
255.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 CHF 3.14
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
3.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 CHF 2.05
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
66.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 CHF 3.35
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
49.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.96 CHF 5.49
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
198.71%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 CHF 2.55
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
69.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 CHF 2.32
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
33.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 CHF 1.98
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
148.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CHF 1.22
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
98.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68 CHF 9.22
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
251.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.81 CHF 10.90
$23.74 Rp 428.0K
-41.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 CHF 1.89
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-14.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 CHF 2.49
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
10.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.58 CHF 3.61
$0.27 Rp 4,848
1596.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 CHF 82.5
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
1202.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.99 CHF 6.31
$0.46 Rp 8,230
1636.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.31 CHF 3.40
$0.45 Rp 8,116
857.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.2 CHF 68.8
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
1329.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 CHF 1.76
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
182.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4K CHF 31.9K
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
54.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3K CHF 35.0K
$32.1K Rp 579.2M
37.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 CHF 242
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
282.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 CHF 42.24
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
1218.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 CHF 46.44
$23.52 Rp 424.1K
150.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.3 CHF 71.2
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-8.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.50 CHF 33.54
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
541.03%
Cinema Ticket
$22.72 CHF 17.93
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
447.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,574 CHF 2,031
$304 Rp 5.5M
746.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.0K CHF 26.8K
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
414.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$134 CHF 105
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
140.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.3 CHF 69.7
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
130.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$181 CHF 143
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
104.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$227 CHF 179
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
191.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 CHF 1,666
$1,006 Rp 18.1M
109.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,519 CHF 1,199
$675 Rp 12.2M
124.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,828 CHF 3,021
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
11.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,802 CHF 2,211
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
37.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.1K CHF 15.1K
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
571.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$14.2K CHF 11.2K
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
529.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,292 CHF 6,544
$165 Rp 3.0M
4918.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.55
13.28
-80.80%

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

Last update for Basel: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,112 in Basel and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basel pays 4918% 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: $156 in Basel vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $685 vs $302 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 Ubud, Bali?
Basel pays 4918% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,112 in Basel versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $2,574 in Basel versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 127% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,653 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 $1,419 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.

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