😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Kristiansand versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,081 in Kristiansand versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,457 in Kristiansand versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Kristiansand is roughly 94% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kristiansand97% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.29NOK 273
$3.37Rp 59.9K
769.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6NOK 788
$38.59Rp 685.5K
119.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.30NOK 152
$5.52Rp 98.1K
195.29%
Cappuccino
$4.70NOK 43.75
$2.64Rp 47.0K
78.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28NOK 30.53
$1.67Rp 29.7K
96.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43NOK 22.63
$0.77Rp 13.7K
215.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.92NOK 120
$2.63Rp 46.8K
391.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.83NOK 82.3
$4.28Rp 76.1K
106.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.35NOK 21.85
$1.55Rp 27.5K
51.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.62NOK 33.72
$2.22Rp 39.5K
63.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.99NOK 37.21
$1.13Rp 20.0K
253.10%
Eggs
$5.63NOK 52.5
$2.09Rp 37.1K
169.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.06NOK 122
$17.39Rp 309.0K
-24.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.57NOK 145
$3.87Rp 68.7K
302.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.87NOK 409
$12.55Rp 222.9K
249.56%
Apples(1kg)
$4.50NOK 41.90
$3.62Rp 64.2K
24.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59NOK 24.13
$1.56Rp 27.7K
66.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00NOK 37.29
$2.35Rp 41.8K
70.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.95NOK 46.12
$2.06Rp 36.5K
140.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53NOK 23.60
$1.90Rp 33.7K
33.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44NOK 22.69
$2.34Rp 41.5K
4.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.05NOK 28.38
$1.03Rp 18.3K
196.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15NOK 20.07
$0.55Rp 9,854
290.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.95NOK 158
$2.25Rp 40.0K
653.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.03NOK 149
$23.81Rp 422.9K
-32.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82NOK 35.55
$2.31Rp 41.1K
65.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90NOK 36.33
$2.80Rp 49.8K
39.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.78NOK 35.20
$0.27Rp 4,839
1300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.4NOK 675
$8.66Rp 153.9K
736.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.14NOK 75.9
$0.48Rp 8,554
1595.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67NOK 15.58
$0.45Rp 7,924
271.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.6NOK 546
$5.72Rp 101.6K
923.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33NOK 21.70
$0.76Rp 13.5K
206.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.4KNOK 450.9K
$24.5KRp 434.9M
97.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3KNOK 412.8K
$32.1KRp 570.6M
37.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223NOK 2,082
$83.6Rp 1.5M
167.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.99NOK 298
$6.46Rp 114.7K
395.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7NOK 566
$18.99Rp 337.4K
219.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.83NOK 455
$56.0Rp 994.4K
-12.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.35NOK 348
$18.62Rp 330.7K
100.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.98NOK 149
$4.28Rp 76.1K
273.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306NOK 2,850
$487Rp 8.6M
-37.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,720NOK 25.3K
$5,856Rp 104.0M
-53.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117NOK 1,089
$45.56Rp 809.3K
156.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2NOK 542
$36.38Rp 646.3K
59.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121NOK 1,127
$82.0Rp 1.5M
47.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162NOK 1,514
$80.4Rp 1.4M
102.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,193NOK 11.1K
$1,117Rp 19.8M
6.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,015NOK 9,452
$701Rp 12.5M
44.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,861NOK 17.3K
$3,537Rp 62.8M
-47.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,609NOK 15.0K
$1,762Rp 31.3M
-8.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,893NOK 45.6K
$2,826Rp 50.2M
73.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,581NOK 33.4K
$2,292Rp 40.7M
56.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,268NOK 39.8K
$170Rp 3.0M
2413.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
13.78
-63.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kristiansand: August 29, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,193 in Kristiansand and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansand pays 2414% 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: $85.0 in Kristiansand vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $535 vs $293 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 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kristiansand or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2414% 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: $1,193 in Kristiansand versus $1,117 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 83% 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 $39.00 versus $85.0 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,706 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 94% 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