😐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: Basel173% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.72CHF 24.24
$3.56Rp 64.3K
762.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$156CHF 123
$32.73Rp 590.3K
375.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.37CHF 15.28
$4.95Rp 89.2K
291.31%
Cappuccino
$6.75CHF 5.33
$2.71Rp 48.9K
149.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67CHF 4.47
$1.34Rp 24.2K
323.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02CHF 3.96
$0.70Rp 12.6K
617.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.09CHF 7.96
$2.92Rp 52.7K
245.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45CHF 5.88
$3.96Rp 71.4K
88.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.77
$1.81Rp 32.6K
23.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.73CHF 2.95
$2.52Rp 45.4K
48.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.99CHF 3.94
$1.16Rp 20.9K
330.17%
Eggs
$8.16CHF 6.44
$2.46Rp 44.4K
231.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.67CHF 22.62
$14.71Rp 265.3K
94.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.93CHF 28.36
$4.32Rp 77.9K
731.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.12CHF 34.03
$12.14Rp 218.9K
255.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98CHF 3.14
$3.84Rp 69.3K
3.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60CHF 2.05
$1.56Rp 28.1K
66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.24CHF 3.35
$2.83Rp 51.1K
49.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.96CHF 5.49
$2.33Rp 41.9K
198.71%
Potato(1kg)
$3.23CHF 2.55
$1.91Rp 34.5K
69.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.94CHF 2.32
$2.20Rp 39.7K
33.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51CHF 1.98
$1.01Rp 18.3K
148.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55CHF 1.22
$0.78Rp 14.0K
98.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68CHF 9.22
$3.32Rp 59.8K
251.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.81CHF 10.90
$23.74Rp 428.0K
-41.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39CHF 1.89
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-14.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16CHF 2.49
$2.86Rp 51.6K
10.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58CHF 3.61
$0.27Rp 4,848
1596.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$105CHF 82.5
$8.03Rp 144.8K
1202.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.99CHF 6.31
$0.46Rp 8,230
1636.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.31CHF 3.40
$0.45Rp 8,116
857.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.2CHF 68.8
$6.10Rp 109.9K
1329.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.76
$0.79Rp 14.3K
182.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4KCHF 31.9K
$26.1KRp 471.6M
54.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3KCHF 35.0K
$32.1KRp 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)
$306CHF 242
$79.9Rp 1.4M
282.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5CHF 42.24
$4.06Rp 73.3K
1218.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9CHF 46.44
$23.52Rp 424.1K
150.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.3CHF 71.2
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-8.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.50CHF 33.54
$6.63Rp 119.6K
541.03%
Cinema Ticket
$22.72CHF 17.93
$4.15Rp 74.8K
447.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,574CHF 2,031
$304Rp 5.5M
746.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.0KCHF 26.8K
$6,613Rp 119.3M
414.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$134CHF 105
$55.5Rp 1.0M
140.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.3CHF 69.7
$38.31Rp 690.9K
130.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$181CHF 143
$88.6Rp 1.6M
104.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$227CHF 179
$77.9Rp 1.4M
191.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,112CHF 1,666
$1,006Rp 18.1M
109.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,519CHF 1,199
$675Rp 12.2M
124.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,828CHF 3,021
$3,442Rp 62.1M
11.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,802CHF 2,211
$2,039Rp 36.8M
37.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.1KCHF 15.1K
$2,841Rp 51.2M
571.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.2KCHF 11.2K
$2,264Rp 40.8M
529.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,292CHF 6,544
$165Rp 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.