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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,779 per month in Karlstad vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,685 per month in Karlstad vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,592 per month in Karlstad vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Karlstad costs about 28% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karlstad and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Karlstad by 34%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.58 SEK 148
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
336.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 SEK 655
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
113.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 SEK 104
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
118.96%
Cappuccino
$4.83 SEK 45.88
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
71.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 SEK 24.54
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
91.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 SEK 20.98
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
202.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.25 SEK 78.4
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
181.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.26 SEK 78.5
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
109.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 SEK 13.17
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-21.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 SEK 27.01
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
15.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.87 SEK 36.72
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
236.52%
Eggs
$4.78 SEK 45.44
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
98.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.16 SEK 116
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-15.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.28 SEK 136
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
240.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.93 SEK 161
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
40.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 SEK 28.28
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-18.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 SEK 24.21
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
62.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 SEK 30.95
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
16.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.08 SEK 48.24
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
126.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 SEK 15.68
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 SEK 16.87
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-21.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.69 SEK 25.58
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
156.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 SEK 12.36
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
64.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30 SEK 69.4
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
128.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 SEK 98.1
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-56.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 SEK 16.62
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-39.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 SEK 16.16
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
-38.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.28 SEK 31.18
$0.27 Rp 4,813
1114.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.6 SEK 794
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
898.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 SEK 55.3
$0.45 Rp 8,167
1193.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 SEK 12.75
$0.46 Rp 8,298
191.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.1 SEK 619
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
972.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.45
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
125.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K SEK 314.9K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
24.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K SEK 328.2K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
6.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 SEK 992
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
32.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.68 SEK 282
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
625.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.68 SEK 406
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
78.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.46 SEK 441
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-52.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.05 SEK 162
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
168.50%
Cinema Ticket
$14.44 SEK 137
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
260.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 SEK 1,422
$297 Rp 5.4M
-49.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,150 SEK 29.9K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
-52.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1 SEK 837
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
64.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.71 SEK 396
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
9.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 SEK 790
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-6.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 SEK 1,401
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
92.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 SEK 10.0K
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
3.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$589 SEK 5,599
$680 Rp 12.3M
-13.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 SEK 11.8K
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-64.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$906 SEK 8,604
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-56.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,148 SEK 29.9K
$164 Rp 3.0M
1823.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
13.28
-63.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karlstad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,056 in Karlstad versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1823% higher in Karlstad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlstad versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $298 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Karlstad vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Karlstad?
Yes – Karlstad is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,668 per month in Karlstad and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlstad or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlstad and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlstad and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,779 in Karlstad and $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Karlstad or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,392, than in Karlstad at $1,779. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karlstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlstad or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlstad or Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karlstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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