๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,212 in Helsinki versus $1,395 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,422 in Helsinki versus $2,559 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,631 in Helsinki versus $3,724 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Living in Helsinki is roughly 59% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Helsinki64% above, Ubud, Bali4% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67โฌ15.00
$3.48Rpย 59.7K
407.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104โฌ88.1
$32.88Rpย 563.4K
215.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.92โฌ10.97
$5.09Rpย 87.2K
153.83%
Cappuccino
$5.26โฌ4.47
$2.75Rpย 47.1K
91.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04โฌ2.58
$1.38Rpย 23.7K
120.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.01
$0.71Rpย 12.2K
232.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.33โฌ7.07
$2.88Rpย 49.3K
189.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06โฌ6.85
$3.87Rpย 66.3K
108.27%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32โฌ1.12
$1.79Rpย 30.7K
-26.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.59โฌ2.20
$2.45Rpย 41.9K
5.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.69โฌ2.28
$1.21Rpย 20.7K
122.31%
Eggs
$3.62โฌ3.07
$2.39Rpย 40.9K
51.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.34โฌ7.93
$14.70Rpย 251.9K
-36.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.67โฌ12.46
$4.24Rpย 72.7K
245.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.62โฌ19.20
$12.08Rpย 206.9K
87.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77โฌ2.35
$3.66Rpย 62.8K
-24.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18โฌ1.85
$1.61Rpย 27.5K
35.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61โฌ2.22
$2.72Rpย 46.6K
-4.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.67โฌ3.97
$2.27Rpย 38.9K
105.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25โฌ1.06
$1.90Rpย 32.6K
-34.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87โฌ1.59
$2.30Rpย 39.4K
-18.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.06โฌ1.75
$1.02Rpย 17.4K
101.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91โฌ1.62
$0.78Rpย 13.3K
144.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.79โฌ10.86
$3.24Rpย 55.6K
294.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.14โฌ13.70
$24.06Rpย 412.3K
-32.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26โฌ2.77
$2.84Rpย 48.7K
14.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01โฌ3.40
$2.79Rpย 47.8K
43.73%
๐ Getting Around
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.62โฌ3.08
$0.27Rpย 4,606
1240.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.8โฌ69.4
$8.24Rpย 141.2K
892.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.22โฌ6.98
$0.45Rpย 7,700
1726.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13โฌ0.96
$0.43Rpย 7,298
162.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$68.7โฌ58.4
$6.02Rpย 103.2K
1041.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.77
$0.86Rpย 14.7K
143.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6Kโฌ31.1K
$26.1KRpย 446.6M
40.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3Kโฌ32.6K
$31.7KRpย 543.2M
20.96%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129โฌ109
$78.3Rpย 1.3M
64.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.54โฌ25.08
$4.00Rpย 68.5K
638.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.90โฌ20.29
$24.35Rpย 417.3K
-1.85%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.25โฌ40.12
$95.8Rpย 1.6M
-50.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.22โฌ28.21
$6.46Rpย 110.6K
414.24%
Cinema Ticket
$19.70โฌ16.73
$4.01Rpย 68.7K
391.27%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$404โฌ343
$302Rpย 5.2M
34.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1Kโฌ9,403
$6,545Rpย 112.2M
69.23%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107โฌ91.2
$53.4Rpย 915.5K
101.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05โฌ33.15
$38.55Rpย 660.6K
1.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106โฌ89.6
$89.1Rpย 1.5M
18.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124โฌ105
$78.9Rpย 1.4M
56.87%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,187โฌ1,008
$1,016Rpย 17.4M
16.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$941โฌ799
$672Rpย 11.5M
39.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,131โฌ1,809
$3,368Rpย 57.7M
-36.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543โฌ1,310
$2,108Rpย 36.1M
-26.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,860โฌ8,371
$3,001Rpย 51.4M
228.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,950โฌ4,203
$2,337Rpย 40.0M
111.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,199โฌ2,716
$178Rpย 3.0M
1702.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.09
13.28
-69.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Helsinki: April 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,187 in Helsinki and $1,016 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐHelsinki pays 1702% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $104 in Helsinki vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $300 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
Helsinki vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Helsinki?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Helsinki or Ubud, Bali?
Helsinki pays 1702% 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 Helsinki and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,187 in Helsinki versus $1,016 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Helsinki or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali โ a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $104 in Helsinki. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Helsinki vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,212 per month in Helsinki versus $1,395 in Ubud, Bali โ a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Helsinki or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,212 in Helsinki, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Helsinki. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Helsinki or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Helsinki, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Helsinki or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Helsinki 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 โ expenses run 59% less than in Helsinki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.