😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,885 in Lulea versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,023 in Lulea versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,161 in Lulea versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Lulea is roughly 33% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea41% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.89SEK 120
$3.56Rp 63.7K
262.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.8SEK 875
$32.73Rp 584.5K
186.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.01SEK 112
$4.95Rp 88.4K
142.63%
Cappuccino
$4.65SEK 43.39
$2.71Rp 48.4K
71.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 23.88
$1.34Rp 24.0K
91.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SEK 19.25
$0.70Rp 12.5K
194.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.46SEK 78.9
$2.92Rp 52.1K
189.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.98SEK 93.2
$3.96Rp 70.7K
152.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.02
$1.81Rp 32.3K
6.63%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55SEK 33.15
$2.52Rp 45.0K
40.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.02SEK 46.86
$1.16Rp 20.7K
332.76%
Eggs
$4.95SEK 46.21
$2.46Rp 43.9K
101.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91SEK 120
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-12.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.97SEK 130
$4.32Rp 77.1K
223.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.38SEK 255
$12.14Rp 216.7K
125.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69SEK 25.13
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-29.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80SEK 26.15
$1.56Rp 27.8K
79.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62SEK 24.49
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-7.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 42.17
$2.33Rp 41.5K
93.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18SEK 20.33
$1.91Rp 34.2K
14.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.26
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-25.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.42SEK 31.88
$1.01Rp 18.1K
238.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.53
$0.78Rp 13.8K
85.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.45SEK 69.5
$3.32Rp 59.2K
124.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.66SEK 118
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-46.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 17.10
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-34.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80SEK 16.77
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-37.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 31.39
$0.27Rp 4,800
1144.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.1SEK 561
$8.03Rp 143.4K
648.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.53SEK 88.9
$0.46Rp 8,150
1971.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71SEK 16.00
$0.45Rp 8,037
280.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$75.1SEK 700
$6.10Rp 108.9K
1130.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.60
$0.79Rp 14.2K
139.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.4K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
22.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KSEK 325.5K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
8.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174SEK 1,627
$79.9Rp 1.4M
118.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.07SEK 309
$4.06Rp 72.6K
714.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.42SEK 265
$23.52Rp 420.0K
20.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.17SEK 459
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-50.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.67SEK 342
$6.63Rp 118.4K
453.09%
Cinema Ticket
$13.75SEK 128
$4.15Rp 74.1K
231.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,481
$304Rp 5.4M
-47.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,764SEK 53.8K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-12.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125SEK 1,168
$55.5Rp 991.8K
125.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73SEK 315
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-11.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,175
$88.6Rp 1.6M
42.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172SEK 1,605
$77.9Rp 1.4M
120.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$791SEK 7,376
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-21.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$578SEK 5,395
$675Rp 12.1M
-14.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,413SEK 13.2K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-58.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053SEK 9,824
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-48.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,337SEK 31.1K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
17.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,379SEK 22.2K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
5.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,732SEK 25.5K
$165Rp 3.0M
1553.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
13.28
-68.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $791 in Lulea and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 1553% 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: $94.0 in Lulea vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $428 vs $302 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 33% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Lulea pays 1553% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $791 in Lulea versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $94.0 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,885 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 $1,419 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 33% less than in Lulea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.