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