Cost of Living Comparison Between Helsinki and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Helsinki and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,212 in Helsinki versus $1,395 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,422 in Helsinki versus $2,559 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,631 in Helsinki versus $3,724 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Helsinki is roughly 59% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Helsinki 64% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 โ‚ฌ15.00
$3.48 Rpย 59.7K
407.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 โ‚ฌ88.1
$32.88 Rpย 563.4K
215.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.92 โ‚ฌ10.97
$5.09 Rpย 87.2K
153.83%
Cappuccino
$5.26 โ‚ฌ4.47
$2.75 Rpย 47.1K
91.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 โ‚ฌ2.58
$1.38 Rpย 23.7K
120.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.01
$0.71 Rpย 12.2K
232.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.33 โ‚ฌ7.07
$2.88 Rpย 49.3K
189.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 โ‚ฌ6.85
$3.87 Rpย 66.3K
108.27%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 โ‚ฌ1.12
$1.79 Rpย 30.7K
-26.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 โ‚ฌ2.20
$2.45 Rpย 41.9K
5.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.69 โ‚ฌ2.28
$1.21 Rpย 20.7K
122.31%
Eggs
$3.62 โ‚ฌ3.07
$2.39 Rpย 40.9K
51.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 โ‚ฌ7.93
$14.70 Rpย 251.9K
-36.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.67 โ‚ฌ12.46
$4.24 Rpย 72.7K
245.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.62 โ‚ฌ19.20
$12.08 Rpย 206.9K
87.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 โ‚ฌ2.35
$3.66 Rpย 62.8K
-24.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 โ‚ฌ1.85
$1.61 Rpย 27.5K
35.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 โ‚ฌ2.22
$2.72 Rpย 46.6K
-4.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 โ‚ฌ3.97
$2.27 Rpย 38.9K
105.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 โ‚ฌ1.06
$1.90 Rpย 32.6K
-34.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 โ‚ฌ1.59
$2.30 Rpย 39.4K
-18.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 โ‚ฌ1.75
$1.02 Rpย 17.4K
101.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 โ‚ฌ1.62
$0.78 Rpย 13.3K
144.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.79 โ‚ฌ10.86
$3.24 Rpย 55.6K
294.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.14 โ‚ฌ13.70
$24.06 Rpย 412.3K
-32.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 โ‚ฌ2.77
$2.84 Rpย 48.7K
14.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 โ‚ฌ3.40
$2.79 Rpย 47.8K
43.73%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.62 โ‚ฌ3.08
$0.27 Rpย 4,606
1240.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.8 โ‚ฌ69.4
$8.24 Rpย 141.2K
892.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.22 โ‚ฌ6.98
$0.45 Rpย 7,700
1726.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 โ‚ฌ0.96
$0.43 Rpย 7,298
162.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$68.7 โ‚ฌ58.4
$6.02 Rpย 103.2K
1041.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.77
$0.86 Rpย 14.7K
143.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K โ‚ฌ31.1K
$26.1K Rpย 446.6M
40.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K โ‚ฌ32.6K
$31.7K Rpย 543.2M
20.96%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 โ‚ฌ109
$78.3 Rpย 1.3M
64.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.54 โ‚ฌ25.08
$4.00 Rpย 68.5K
638.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.90 โ‚ฌ20.29
$24.35 Rpย 417.3K
-1.85%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.25 โ‚ฌ40.12
$95.8 Rpย 1.6M
-50.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.22 โ‚ฌ28.21
$6.46 Rpย 110.6K
414.24%
Cinema Ticket
$19.70 โ‚ฌ16.73
$4.01 Rpย 68.7K
391.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$404 โ‚ฌ343
$302 Rpย 5.2M
34.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K โ‚ฌ9,403
$6,545 Rpย 112.2M
69.23%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 โ‚ฌ91.2
$53.4 Rpย 915.5K
101.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05 โ‚ฌ33.15
$38.55 Rpย 660.6K
1.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 โ‚ฌ89.6
$89.1 Rpย 1.5M
18.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 โ‚ฌ105
$78.9 Rpย 1.4M
56.87%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 โ‚ฌ1,008
$1,016 Rpย 17.4M
16.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$941 โ‚ฌ799
$672 Rpย 11.5M
39.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,131 โ‚ฌ1,809
$3,368 Rpย 57.7M
-36.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,543 โ‚ฌ1,310
$2,108 Rpย 36.1M
-26.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,860 โ‚ฌ8,371
$3,001 Rpย 51.4M
228.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,950 โ‚ฌ4,203
$2,337 Rpย 40.0M
111.87%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Helsinki
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,199 โ‚ฌ2,716
$178 Rpย 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

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.

Helsinki 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.

Dining 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.

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