😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,352 in Kristiansand versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,543 in Kristiansand versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,734 in Kristiansand versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Kristiansand is roughly 67% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kristiansand76% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.04NOK 241
$3.45Rp 61.8K
625.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 965
$32.34Rp 578.5K
209.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.28NOK 128
$4.84Rp 86.7K
174.38%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 48.60
$2.75Rp 49.1K
83.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55NOK 24.53
$1.38Rp 24.8K
84.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12NOK 20.39
$0.75Rp 13.4K
182.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.13NOK 88.0
$2.99Rp 53.5K
205.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.78NOK 94.2
$3.85Rp 68.9K
154.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.28
$1.74Rp 31.1K
27.01%
White Bread(500g)
$3.33NOK 32.08
$2.46Rp 44.0K
35.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21NOK 30.95
$1.17Rp 20.9K
174.36%
Eggs
$4.18NOK 40.23
$2.43Rp 43.5K
72.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.26NOK 108
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-22.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.96NOK 135
$4.35Rp 77.8K
220.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.90NOK 298
$11.98Rp 214.3K
157.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47NOK 33.43
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-6.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35NOK 22.68
$1.63Rp 29.1K
44.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28NOK 31.55
$2.74Rp 49.1K
19.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.21NOK 40.60
$2.24Rp 40.1K
87.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29NOK 22.10
$1.92Rp 34.3K
19.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22NOK 21.38
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-2.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75NOK 26.49
$1.06Rp 19.0K
159.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.73
$0.72Rp 12.9K
155.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.91NOK 134
$3.29Rp 58.8K
322.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.53NOK 150
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-33.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25NOK 31.34
$2.78Rp 49.7K
16.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91NOK 37.66
$2.73Rp 48.9K
43.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.52NOK 33.93
$0.27Rp 4,765
1203.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.3NOK 629
$8.11Rp 145.0K
705.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.31NOK 99.3
$0.48Rp 8,636
2047.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45NOK 13.94
$0.42Rp 7,511
245.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.68NOK 411
$6.22Rp 111.3K
586.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 21.00
$0.81Rp 14.6K
169.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 343.3K
$26.6KRp 476.1M
33.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KNOK 411.3K
$32.2KRp 575.9M
32.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216NOK 2,079
$78.4Rp 1.4M
175.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.13NOK 300
$4.07Rp 72.8K
664.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.26NOK 359
$24.33Rp 435.2K
53.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.99NOK 404
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-57.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.93NOK 346
$6.34Rp 113.3K
466.72%
Cinema Ticket
$14.86NOK 143
$3.99Rp 71.3K
272.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273NOK 2,631
$305Rp 5.5M
-10.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 139.8K
$6,642Rp 118.8M
118.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104NOK 1,005
$54.1Rp 968.6K
92.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.04NOK 453
$37.81Rp 676.3K
24.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101NOK 977
$86.8Rp 1.6M
16.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153NOK 1,471
$76.4Rp 1.4M
99.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,024NOK 9,860
$992Rp 17.7M
3.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$878NOK 8,459
$673Rp 12.0M
30.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.7K
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-48.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,417NOK 13.6K
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-30.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,761NOK 45.9K
$2,805Rp 50.2M
69.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,327NOK 32.0K
$2,227Rp 39.8M
49.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,092NOK 39.4K
$167Rp 3.0M
2351.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
13.28
-67.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kristiansand: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,024 in Kristiansand and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansand pays 2351% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $100 in Kristiansand vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $446 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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
Kristiansand vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Kristiansand?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kristiansand or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2351% higher in Kristiansand, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kristiansand and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,024 in Kristiansand versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Kristiansand and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Kristiansand. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Kristiansand or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $100 in Kristiansand. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Kristiansand or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,352 in Kristiansand, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Kristiansand. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kristiansand or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kristiansand, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kristiansand or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Kristiansand and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Kristiansand. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kristiansand vs other spots: cost of living compared