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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,404 in Molde versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,650 in Molde versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,896 in Molde versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Molde is roughly 73% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Molde 81% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.04 NOK 237
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
601.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.8 NOK 776
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
153.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.47 NOK 128
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
168.86%
Cappuccino
$5.34 NOK 50.6
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
89.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 NOK 27.22
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
112.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 NOK 25.04
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
261.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.99 NOK 85.3
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
206.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.19 NOK 96.6
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
158.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 NOK 20.54
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
21.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 NOK 29.11
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
25.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.91 NOK 37.04
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
240.00%
Eggs
$2.98 NOK 28.26
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
23.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.97 NOK 85.0
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-37.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.07 NOK 162
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
307.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.04 NOK 266
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
132.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 NOK 23.63
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-31.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.99 NOK 28.38
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
90.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 NOK 32.43
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
22.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.54 NOK 52.5
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
147.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 NOK 14.64
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 NOK 21.65
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 NOK 25.66
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
158.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 NOK 18.24
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
143.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.08 NOK 171
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
466.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.96 NOK 218
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-2.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 NOK 27.21
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-1.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 NOK 37.35
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
42.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.28 NOK 40.61
$0.27 Rp 4,813
1485.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.5 NOK 772
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
873.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.20 NOK 96.7
$0.45 Rp 8,167
2166.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 13.23
$0.46 Rp 8,298
204.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.41 NOK 440
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
664.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.36
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
161.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K NOK 335.9K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
33.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K NOK 366.5K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
18.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 NOK 2,285
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
204.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.75 NOK 358
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
822.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4 NOK 525
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
132.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.61 NOK 470
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-49.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.75 NOK 339
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
462.99%
Cinema Ticket
$16.73 NOK 159
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
317.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 NOK 1,918
$297 Rp 5.4M
-31.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K NOK 95.7K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
52.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.7 NOK 917
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
80.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 NOK 497
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
37.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 NOK 953
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
13.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 NOK 1,437
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
97.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,194 NOK 11.3K
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
17.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$901 NOK 8,541
$680 Rp 12.3M
32.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 NOK 13.3K
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-59.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,456 NOK 13.8K
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-30.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Molde
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,189 NOK 39.7K
$164 Rp 3.0M
2459.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.75
13.28
-71.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Molde: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,194 in Molde and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Molde pays 2459% 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: $82.0 in Molde vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $298 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
Molde vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Molde?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Molde or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2459% higher in Molde, 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 Molde and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,194 in Molde versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $202 in Molde versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Molde and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Molde. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Molde or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,404 in Molde, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Molde. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Molde or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Molde, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Molde or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Molde 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 73% less than in Molde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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