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 $1,739 per month in Karlstad vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,699 per month in Karlstad vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,658 per month in Karlstad vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Karlstad costs about 24% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karlstad and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Karlstad by 29%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.95 SEK 150
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
346.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 SEK 645
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
111.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 SEK 105
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
129.84%
Cappuccino
$4.96 SEK 46.57
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
80.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 SEK 25.36
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
104.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 SEK 20.67
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
214.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.52 SEK 79.9
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
192.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.31 SEK 78.0
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
119.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 SEK 13.47
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-15.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 SEK 27.11
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
17.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.92 SEK 36.78
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
226.67%
Eggs
$4.76 SEK 44.61
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
95.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 SEK 116
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-14.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.25 SEK 134
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
230.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.02 SEK 160
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
39.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 28.05
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-18.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 SEK 24.24
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
66.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 SEK 30.32
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
15.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.08 SEK 47.62
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
118.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 SEK 14.82
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-19.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 SEK 16.41
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-24.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 SEK 24.43
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
145.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 SEK 11.86
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
72.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.29 SEK 68.4
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
122.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 SEK 100
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-53.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 SEK 16.33
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-38.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 SEK 15.85
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-39.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.20 SEK 30.06
$0.29 Rp 5,217
1003.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.3 SEK 800
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
958.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.74 SEK 53.9
$0.45 Rp 8,047
1175.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 SEK 12.62
$0.45 Rp 8,094
197.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$64.6 SEK 606
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
934.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 SEK 18.65
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
134.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 300.0K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
23.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K SEK 322.5K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
8.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 SEK 979
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
29.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.36 SEK 275
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
623.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.62 SEK 409
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
78.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.21 SEK 433
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-52.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 SEK 162
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
167.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 SEK 134
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
252.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,374
$304 Rp 5.4M
-51.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,179 SEK 29.8K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-51.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 SEK 811
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
59.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.41 SEK 388
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
6.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.6 SEK 775
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-4.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 SEK 1,386
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
92.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,065 SEK 9,987
$986 Rp 17.7M
8.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 SEK 5,365
$658 Rp 11.8M
-13.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 SEK 11.4K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-64.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 SEK 8,512
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-56.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,261 SEK 30.6K
$163 Rp 2.9M
1895.75%
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,065 in Karlstad versus $986 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 1896% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $297 – 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 24%, 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 $2,609 per month in Karlstad and $2,106 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 $69.0 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 $1,739 in Karlstad and $1,404 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 $1,404, than in Karlstad at $1,739. 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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