Cost of Living Comparison Between Kristiansand and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Kristiansand and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Kristiansand 97% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.29 NOK 273
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
769.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 NOK 788
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
119.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.30 NOK 152
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
195.29%
Cappuccino
$4.70 NOK 43.75
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
78.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 NOK 30.53
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
96.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 NOK 22.63
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
215.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.92 NOK 120
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
391.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.83 NOK 82.3
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
106.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.35 NOK 21.85
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
51.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 NOK 33.72
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
63.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 NOK 37.21
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
253.10%
Eggs
$5.63 NOK 52.5
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
169.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.06 NOK 122
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
-24.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.57 NOK 145
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
302.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$43.87 NOK 409
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
249.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.50 NOK 41.90
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
24.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 NOK 24.13
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
66.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.00 NOK 37.29
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
70.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.95 NOK 46.12
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
140.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 NOK 23.60
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
33.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 NOK 22.69
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
4.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 NOK 28.38
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
196.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 NOK 20.07
$0.55 Rp 9,854
290.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.95 NOK 158
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
653.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.03 NOK 149
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-32.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 NOK 35.55
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
65.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 NOK 36.33
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
39.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.78 NOK 35.20
$0.27 Rp 4,839
1300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.4 NOK 675
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
736.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 NOK 75.9
$0.48 Rp 8,554
1595.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 NOK 15.58
$0.45 Rp 7,924
271.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$58.6 NOK 546
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
923.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 NOK 21.70
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
206.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.4K NOK 450.9K
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
97.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3K NOK 412.8K
$32.1K Rp 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)
$223 NOK 2,082
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
167.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.99 NOK 298
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
395.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 NOK 566
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
219.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.83 NOK 455
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
-12.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.35 NOK 348
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
100.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.98 NOK 149
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
273.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 NOK 2,850
$487 Rp 8.6M
-37.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,720 NOK 25.3K
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
-53.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 NOK 1,089
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
156.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 NOK 542
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
59.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 NOK 1,127
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
47.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 NOK 1,514
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
102.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 NOK 11.1K
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
6.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 NOK 9,452
$701 Rp 12.5M
44.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 NOK 17.3K
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
-47.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 NOK 15.0K
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
-8.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,893 NOK 45.6K
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
73.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,581 NOK 33.4K
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
56.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansand
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,268 NOK 39.8K
$170 Rp 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.

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