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 $1,767 per month in Karlstad vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,725 per month in Karlstad vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,683 per month in Karlstad vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Karlstad costs about 23% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karlstad and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Karlstad by 32%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.54 SEK 144
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
335.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.2 SEK 623
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
106.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 SEK 102
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
116.17%
Cappuccino
$4.81 SEK 44.62
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
69.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 23.79
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
91.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SEK 19.66
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
207.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.27 SEK 76.7
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
176.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 SEK 76.0
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
112.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 SEK 13.07
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-18.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 SEK 26.43
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
12.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 SEK 35.12
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
218.49%
Eggs
$4.86 SEK 45.02
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
100.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.00 SEK 111
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.92 SEK 129
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
233.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.02 SEK 158
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
42.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 SEK 28.64
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-16.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 SEK 23.67
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
58.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 SEK 30.20
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
21.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.99 SEK 46.22
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
114.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 SEK 14.69
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-17.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 SEK 16.10
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-20.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 SEK 24.29
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
147.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 11.80
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
76.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25 SEK 67.2
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
131.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.87 SEK 101
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-53.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 SEK 16.28
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-35.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 SEK 15.88
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-40.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.20 SEK 29.63
$0.29 Rp 5,010
1003.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.0 SEK 788
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
940.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 SEK 52.7
$0.45 Rp 7,834
1164.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 SEK 12.61
$0.42 Rp 7,278
223.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$64.2 SEK 595
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
941.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 SEK 18.67
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
139.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 296.4K
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
21.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K SEK 315.0K
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
4.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 SEK 1,001
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
37.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.61 SEK 274
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
649.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.92 SEK 398
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
75.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.25 SEK 429
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-52.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56 SEK 163
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
176.54%
Cinema Ticket
$14.65 SEK 136
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
262.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 SEK 1,389
$303 Rp 5.2M
-50.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,178 SEK 29.5K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-51.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7 SEK 804
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
61.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 SEK 390
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
10.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 SEK 748
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-7.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 SEK 1,363
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
86.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,046 SEK 9,695
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
3.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 SEK 5,303
$674 Rp 11.6M
-15.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 SEK 11.5K
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-63.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$882 SEK 8,172
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-57.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,375 SEK 31.3K
$173 Rp 3.0M
1849.67%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,046 in Karlstad versus $1,012 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 1850% 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 $67.0 in Karlstad versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 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 23%, 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 $2,651 per month in Karlstad and $2,158 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 Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlstad and $33.00 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,767 in Karlstad and $1,438 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 Karlstad or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Karlstad at $1,767. 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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