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