Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlstad and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $1,727 in Karlstad, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. The total is higher in Karlstad despite lower rent and utilities.

Karlstad, Sweden
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Karlstad
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,727
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karlstad and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Karlstad and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,727 per month in Karlstad vs $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Karlstad $1,727
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

A couple spends around $2,665 per month in Karlstad vs $2,305 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Karlstad $2,665
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

A family of three spends $3,603 per month in Karlstad vs $3,261 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Karlstad $3,603
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Karlstad costs about 28% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.14 SEK 149
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
356.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5 SEK 790
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
125.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.07 SEK 98.9
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
82.10%
Cappuccino
$4.86 SEK 47.68
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
78.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 SEK 24.01
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
44.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 SEK 21.25
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
184.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.08 SEK 79.3
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
204.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.60 SEK 64.7
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
50.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SEK 14.22
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
-2.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 SEK 27.80
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
24.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 SEK 36.14
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
209.24%
Eggs
$4.37 SEK 42.85
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
114.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 SEK 99.8
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
-42.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.96 SEK 137
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
252.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.73 SEK 174
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
45.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 SEK 28.91
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
-19.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 SEK 26.35
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
76.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 SEK 29.71
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
35.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.40 SEK 53.0
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
174.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 SEK 18.80
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
3.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 SEK 16.84
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
-28.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 SEK 25.87
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
166.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 SEK 12.74
$0.51 Rp 9,303
154.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96 SEK 68.3
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
213.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 SEK 99.8
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
-54.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 SEK 23.79
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 SEK 19.98
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
-31.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.13 SEK 30.70
$0.25 Rp 4,548
1152.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.4 SEK 789
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
927.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.46 SEK 53.6
$0.44 Rp 7,964
1140.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 SEK 12.67
$0.43 Rp 7,793
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.4 SEK 592
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
1015.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 SEK 16.90
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
109.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K SEK 320.4K
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
36.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 331.2K
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
6.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 SEK 975
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
25.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.73 SEK 154
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
143.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.76 SEK 429
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
135.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.27 SEK 444
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
-8.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 SEK 163
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
-5.61%
Cinema Ticket
$14.08 SEK 138
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
229.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 SEK 1,236
$491 Rp 8.9M
-74.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 1,037
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
136.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.85 SEK 391
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
14.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 SEK 744
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-5.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 SEK 1,384
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
77.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$868 SEK 8,518
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-22.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 SEK 5,638
$671 Rp 12.2M
-14.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 SEK 11.6K
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
-66.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$867 SEK 8,504
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
-49.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,849 SEK 37.8K
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
40.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,779 SEK 27.3K
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
21.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlstad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,203 SEK 31.4K
$164 Rp 3.0M
1854.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.09
13.78
-70.32%

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

Last update for Karlstad: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Karlstad
$575
Ubud, Bali
$672 16.9% $97
Groceries & Markets
Karlstad
$370
Ubud, Bali
$288 22.1% $82
Eating Out
Karlstad
$282
Ubud, Bali
$108 61.8% $174
Clothing & Footwear
Karlstad
$163
Ubud, Bali
$108 34.1% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlstad
$159
Ubud, Bali
$104 34.5% $55
Getting Around
Karlstad
$105
Ubud, Bali
$11 89.1% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Karlstad
$73
Ubud, Bali
$58 21% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $868 in Karlstad versus $1,125 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 in Karlstad are about 20 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Karlstad versus $36 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $288 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Karlstad
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
19:04 7:04 PM
02:04 2:04 AM
7 h ahead of Karlstad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
62,797
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karlstad Ubud, Bali 11,490 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karlstad
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,590 per month in Karlstad and $2,023 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 Karlstad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $868 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlstad or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Karlstad and $36 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 $1,727 in Karlstad and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. That makes Ubud, Bali about 22% cheaper.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Karlstad or in Ubud, Bali?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,727 in Karlstad and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Karlstad or in Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,349 in Ubud, Bali to $1,727 in Karlstad. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Karlstad or Ubud, Bali?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karlstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Karlstad vs other spots: cost of living compared

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