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 $1,787 per month in Karlstad vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,727 per month in Karlstad vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,666 per month in Karlstad vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Karlstad costs about 31% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karlstad and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Karlstad by 31%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.27 SEK 150
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
343.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.9 SEK 797
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
122.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 SEK 102
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
81.79%
Cappuccino
$4.93 SEK 48.57
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
84.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 SEK 25.09
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
45.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 SEK 20.17
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
135.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.13 SEK 80.1
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
175.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 SEK 64.8
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
45.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 SEK 15.12
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 SEK 28.38
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
23.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.70 SEK 36.51
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
233.33%
Eggs
$4.55 SEK 44.82
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
106.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.25 SEK 101
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-42.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.40 SEK 142
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
251.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.10 SEK 178
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
48.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 SEK 29.58
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
-19.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SEK 26.58
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
69.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 SEK 30.90
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
37.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.50 SEK 54.2
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
182.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 SEK 17.78
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
-5.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 SEK 17.13
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-25.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 SEK 26.63
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
167.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 SEK 13.23
$0.55 Rp 9,773
143.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08 SEK 69.8
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
217.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.15 SEK 100
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-56.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 SEK 24.00
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 SEK 20.28
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-31.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.26 SEK 32.12
$0.27 Rp 4,814
1107.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.4 SEK 802
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
806.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.65 SEK 55.7
$0.48 Rp 8,566
1077.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 SEK 13.30
$0.43 Rp 7,679
213.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.5 SEK 626
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
1026.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 SEK 18.04
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
128.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K SEK 334.9K
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
36.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K SEK 325.5K
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 SEK 1,005
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
25.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.84 SEK 186
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
190.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.60 SEK 440
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
137.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.80 SEK 461
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-17.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 SEK 168
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-8.92%
Cinema Ticket
$14.73 SEK 145
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
224.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$132 SEK 1,298
$481 Rp 8.5M
-72.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 SEK 918
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
104.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.89 SEK 403
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
13.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 SEK 744
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-6.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 SEK 1,435
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
85.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 SEK 8,673
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-21.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 SEK 5,873
$698 Rp 12.4M
-14.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 SEK 12.0K
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-66.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$861 SEK 8,485
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-50.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,869 SEK 38.1K
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
38.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,857 SEK 28.2K
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
24.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,074 SEK 30.3K
$168 Rp 3.0M
1729.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.94
13.78
-71.41%

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

Last update for Karlstad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $880 in Karlstad versus $1,115 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 1729% 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 $81.0 in Karlstad versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $295 – 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 31%, 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 $2,681 per month in Karlstad and $2,052 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 $81.0 in Karlstad and $36.00 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 $1,787 in Karlstad and $1,368 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 $1,368, than in Karlstad at $1,787. 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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