😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,470 in Harstad versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,732 in Harstad versus $2,588 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,993 in Harstad versus $3,778 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Harstad is roughly 77% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harstad85% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.58NOK 130
$3.43Rp 61.6K
295.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,156
$31.97Rp 574.4K
277.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.25NOK 146
$5.05Rp 90.8K
201.98%
Cappuccino
$6.21NOK 59.4
$2.71Rp 48.8K
129.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.61
$1.39Rp 25.0K
160.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12NOK 29.83
$0.74Rp 13.3K
321.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.99NOK 105
$2.89Rp 52.0K
280.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.23NOK 108
$3.79Rp 68.1K
196.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 23.41
$1.79Rp 32.2K
36.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.30NOK 31.58
$2.51Rp 45.0K
31.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02NOK 28.88
$1.21Rp 21.8K
149.59%
Eggs
$4.14NOK 39.66
$2.37Rp 42.5K
74.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.47NOK 100
$14.43Rp 259.3K
-27.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.42NOK 148
$4.15Rp 74.6K
271.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.05NOK 355
$12.11Rp 217.7K
205.95%
Apples(1kg)
$4.05NOK 38.80
$3.77Rp 67.7K
7.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.51
$1.63Rp 29.2K
63.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.77
$2.71Rp 48.6K
30.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65NOK 44.48
$2.26Rp 40.5K
105.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06NOK 19.70
$1.93Rp 34.6K
6.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98NOK 18.93
$2.19Rp 39.4K
-9.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67NOK 25.57
$1.02Rp 18.3K
161.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76NOK 16.85
$0.72Rp 12.9K
144.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.92NOK 143
$3.18Rp 57.2K
369.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.83NOK 152
$23.84Rp 428.3K
-33.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.48NOK 33.29
$2.77Rp 49.8K
25.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70NOK 44.96
$2.75Rp 49.4K
70.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.11NOK 58.5
$0.27Rp 4,802
2162.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.3NOK 759
$8.20Rp 147.3K
867.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.53NOK 120
$0.48Rp 8,684
2510.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.42
$0.42Rp 7,571
233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.8NOK 486
$6.03Rp 108.3K
742.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 20.50
$0.82Rp 14.7K
160.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KNOK 319.0K
$26.6KRp 477.3M
25.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KNOK 291.0K
$32.2KRp 578.6M
-5.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162NOK 1,552
$78.3Rp 1.4M
107.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.24NOK 309
$3.91Rp 70.3K
724.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7NOK 734
$23.91Rp 429.7K
220.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.64NOK 466
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-49.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.38NOK 339
$6.53Rp 117.3K
441.81%
Cinema Ticket
$16.78NOK 161
$4.01Rp 72.1K
318.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334NOK 3,194
$303Rp 5.4M
10.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,159NOK 49.4K
$6,551Rp 117.7M
-21.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0NOK 718
$55.3Rp 993.9K
35.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.21NOK 318
$38.32Rp 688.6K
-13.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118NOK 1,131
$88.5Rp 1.6M
33.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136NOK 1,303
$76.7Rp 1.4M
77.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,298NOK 12.4K
$986Rp 17.7M
31.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,006NOK 9,627
$682Rp 12.3M
47.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,189NOK 20.9K
$3,420Rp 61.5M
-36.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,471NOK 14.1K
$2,075Rp 37.3M
-29.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,805NOK 55.6K
$2,762Rp 49.6M
110.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,967NOK 38.0K
$2,243Rp 40.3M
76.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,370NOK 32.3K
$169Rp 3.0M
1896.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
13.28
-67.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Harstad: July 20, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,298 in Harstad and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harstad pays 1897% 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: $121 in Harstad vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $480 vs $298 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
Harstad vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Harstad?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Harstad or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1897% higher in Harstad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Harstad and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,298 in Harstad versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Harstad and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Harstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Harstad or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $121 in Harstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Harstad or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,470 in Harstad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Harstad. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Harstad or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Harstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Harstad or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Harstad 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Harstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.