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: $3,544 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: Basel 157% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.93 CHF 24.42
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
798.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 CHF 102
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
250.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.69 CHF 15.25
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
231.97%
Cappuccino
$6.73 CHF 5.49
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
138.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 CHF 5.17
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
261.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 CHF 4.78
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
632.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.34 CHF 7.62
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
207.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07 CHF 8.22
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
134.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CHF 1.89
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
44.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 CHF 2.49
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
34.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 CHF 2.71
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
183.76%
Eggs
$8.34 CHF 6.80
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
284.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.21 CHF 21.39
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
48.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$27.85 CHF 22.73
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
587.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.56 CHF 34.73
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
249.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 CHF 2.99
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
1.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 CHF 1.96
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
46.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 CHF 2.44
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
29.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 CHF 3.94
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
146.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CHF 1.46
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-2.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 CHF 1.59
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-17.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 CHF 1.90
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
121.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 CHF 1.36
$0.54 Rp 9,560
207.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.63 CHF 9.49
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
405.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 CHF 9.99
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-46.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 CHF 2.03
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
6.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 CHF 2.59
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
3.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.44 CHF 3.63
$0.25 Rp 4,365
1676.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 CHF 88.3
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
1048.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.99 CHF 6.52
$0.49 Rp 8,631
1530.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.59 CHF 3.75
$0.47 Rp 8,349
876.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$88.0 CHF 71.8
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
1471.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.87
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
182.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.2K CHF 36.1K
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
76.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K CHF 32.3K
$31.1K Rp 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)
$299 CHF 244
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
260.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 CHF 43.47
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
720.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.0 CHF 53.9
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
251.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.8 CHF 70.0
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
55.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.0 CHF 48.17
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
224.16%
Cinema Ticket
$23.81 CHF 19.44
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
453.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,026 CHF 2,470
$494 Rp 8.7M
512.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.3K CHF 27.1K
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
462.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$147 CHF 120
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
216.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.6 CHF 66.6
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
123.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$164 CHF 134
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
102.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199 CHF 162
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
152.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,141 CHF 1,747
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
92.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 CHF 1,247
$693 Rp 12.2M
120.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,615 CHF 2,950
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-0.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,890 CHF 2,358
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
68.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.4K CHF 15.0K
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
566.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$14.5K CHF 11.8K
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
533.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,336 CHF 5,987
$167 Rp 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.

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