😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,919 in Lulea versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,101 in Lulea versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,283 in Lulea versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Lulea is roughly 37% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea40% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.44SEK 120
$3.37Rp 59.9K
269.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.1SEK 954
$38.59Rp 685.5K
156.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59SEK 112
$5.52Rp 98.1K
109.96%
Cappuccino
$4.58SEK 44.07
$2.64Rp 47.0K
73.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64SEK 25.39
$1.67Rp 29.7K
58.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.94
$0.77Rp 13.7K
155.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.32SEK 89.8
$2.63Rp 46.8K
254.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.80SEK 94.4
$4.28Rp 76.1K
128.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.01
$1.55Rp 27.5K
20.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43SEK 33.03
$2.22Rp 39.5K
54.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.91SEK 47.27
$1.13Rp 20.0K
334.51%
Eggs
$4.67SEK 44.95
$2.09Rp 37.1K
123.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63SEK 122
$17.39Rp 309.0K
-27.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.62SEK 131
$3.87Rp 68.7K
251.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.73SEK 267
$12.55Rp 222.9K
120.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66SEK 25.59
$3.62Rp 64.2K
-26.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82SEK 27.20
$1.56Rp 27.7K
80.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50SEK 24.06
$2.35Rp 41.8K
6.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35SEK 41.88
$2.06Rp 36.5K
111.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22SEK 21.40
$1.90Rp 33.7K
16.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.95
$2.34Rp 41.5K
-33.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.44SEK 33.16
$1.03Rp 18.3K
233.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.37
$0.55Rp 9,854
132.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17SEK 69.1
$2.25Rp 40.0K
218.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68SEK 122
$23.81Rp 422.9K
-46.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.14
$2.31Rp 41.1K
-18.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SEK 17.71
$2.80Rp 49.8K
-34.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42SEK 32.96
$0.27Rp 4,839
1166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6SEK 555
$8.66Rp 153.9K
565.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.51SEK 91.6
$0.48Rp 8,554
1881.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.25SEK 21.67
$0.45Rp 7,924
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.9SEK 693
$5.72Rp 101.6K
1157.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.98
$0.76Rp 13.5K
131.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KSEK 322.7K
$24.5KRp 434.9M
36.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KSEK 344.4K
$32.1KRp 570.6M
11.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173SEK 1,663
$83.6Rp 1.5M
106.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34SEK 312
$6.46Rp 114.7K
400.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89SEK 269
$18.99Rp 337.4K
46.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.35SEK 475
$56.0Rp 994.4K
-11.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.98SEK 356
$18.62Rp 330.7K
98.60%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46SEK 130
$4.28Rp 76.1K
214.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,552
$487Rp 8.6M
-66.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,808SEK 55.9K
$5,856Rp 104.0M
-0.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123SEK 1,182
$45.56Rp 809.3K
169.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18SEK 329
$36.38Rp 646.3K
-6.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,211
$82.0Rp 1.5M
53.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166SEK 1,599
$80.4Rp 1.4M
106.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,766
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-27.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600SEK 5,775
$701Rp 12.5M
-14.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,533SEK 14.8K
$3,537Rp 62.8M
-56.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151SEK 11.1K
$1,762Rp 31.3M
-34.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,240SEK 31.2K
$2,826Rp 50.2M
14.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,346SEK 22.6K
$2,292Rp 40.7M
2.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,633SEK 25.4K
$170Rp 3.0M
1450.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.85
13.78
-72.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: September 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 1451% 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: $99.0 in Lulea vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 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
Lulea vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Lulea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1451% higher in Lulea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $99.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lulea or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,919 in Lulea, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Lulea. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Lulea 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Lulea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.