😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,485 in Harstad versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,699 in Harstad versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,912 in Harstad versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Harstad is roughly 77% more expensive than 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
$13.48NOK 125
$3.42Rp 58.7K
294.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,145
$32.96Rp 566.5K
273.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.11NOK 140
$5.08Rp 87.3K
197.44%
Cappuccino
$5.99NOK 55.7
$2.82Rp 48.5K
112.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 31.99
$1.37Rp 23.5K
151.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07NOK 28.55
$0.71Rp 12.2K
332.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.11NOK 103
$2.97Rp 51.0K
274.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.20NOK 104
$3.91Rp 67.2K
186.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33NOK 21.67
$1.75Rp 30.0K
33.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16NOK 29.38
$2.52Rp 43.2K
25.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10NOK 28.84
$1.21Rp 20.8K
156.20%
Eggs
$4.28NOK 39.79
$2.33Rp 40.1K
83.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.56NOK 98.2
$14.50Rp 249.2K
-27.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.15NOK 141
$4.36Rp 74.9K
247.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$38.04NOK 354
$12.05Rp 207.0K
215.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.88NOK 36.12
$3.82Rp 65.6K
1.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77NOK 25.80
$1.61Rp 27.7K
72.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.52NOK 32.72
$2.70Rp 46.5K
30.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64NOK 43.16
$2.23Rp 38.3K
108.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99NOK 18.54
$1.90Rp 32.6K
4.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05NOK 19.10
$2.18Rp 37.5K
-5.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.68NOK 24.91
$1.03Rp 17.7K
160.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76NOK 16.40
$0.77Rp 13.3K
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.25NOK 142
$3.18Rp 54.7K
379.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.36NOK 152
$23.23Rp 399.2K
-29.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 33.66
$2.85Rp 48.9K
27.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53NOK 42.14
$2.72Rp 46.7K
66.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.03NOK 56.1
$0.29Rp 5,022
1979.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.3NOK 737
$8.43Rp 144.8K
840.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.82NOK 119
$0.49Rp 8,344
2516.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.41
$0.45Rp 7,812
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.5NOK 470
$6.28Rp 107.8K
704.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 19.78
$0.85Rp 14.6K
150.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KNOK 311.9K
$26.1KRp 447.8M
28.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KNOK 282.3K
$31.5KRp 541.8M
-3.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159NOK 1,480
$79.8Rp 1.4M
99.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.50NOK 312
$4.09Rp 70.3K
719.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7NOK 714
$24.06Rp 413.6K
218.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.47NOK 451
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-49.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.46NOK 330
$6.53Rp 112.2K
443.03%
Cinema Ticket
$16.65NOK 155
$4.13Rp 71.1K
303.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336NOK 3,125
$297Rp 5.1M
13.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,048NOK 47.0K
$6,661Rp 114.5M
-24.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2NOK 718
$55.0Rp 944.5K
40.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.68NOK 304
$38.75Rp 666.0K
-15.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117NOK 1,089
$89.6Rp 1.5M
30.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135NOK 1,260
$78.9Rp 1.4M
71.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,331NOK 12.4K
$1,018Rp 17.5M
30.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,021NOK 9,498
$660Rp 11.3M
54.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,200NOK 20.5K
$3,435Rp 59.0M
-35.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,443NOK 13.4K
$2,053Rp 35.3M
-29.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,987NOK 55.7K
$2,981Rp 51.2M
100.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,636NOK 43.1K
$2,368Rp 40.7M
95.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,563NOK 33.1K
$172Rp 3.0M
1970.61%
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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,331 in Harstad and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harstad pays 1971% 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: $123 in Harstad vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $481 vs $299 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?
Harstad pays 1971% more on average, 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: $1,331 in Harstad versus $1,018 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 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 Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $123 in Harstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Harstad or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,485 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.