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