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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,609 in Bålsta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,497 in Bålsta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,386 in Bålsta.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 13% less than in Bålsta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Bålsta 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$12.92 SEK 125
-73.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$67.5 SEK 653
-52.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$9.24 SEK 89.5
-47.62%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$4.15 SEK 40.17
-33.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.78 SEK 26.96
-50.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$2.38 SEK 23.03
-68.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$7.53 SEK 72.9
-60.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$7.42 SEK 71.8
-48.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.60 SEK 15.51
8.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$2.13 SEK 20.60
15.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$3.79 SEK 36.72
-69.13%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$3.86 SEK 37.36
-37.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$11.70 SEK 113
23.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$11.82 SEK 114
-63.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$11.43 SEK 111
4.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$2.57 SEK 24.91
44.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$2.69 SEK 26.04
-39.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$2.34 SEK 22.66
17.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$3.01 SEK 29.17
-25.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.57 SEK 15.18
22.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.30 SEK 12.63
75.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.56 SEK 15.11
-32.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.07 SEK 10.36
-32.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$7.57 SEK 73.3
-56.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$10.24 SEK 99.1
126.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.60 SEK 15.48
73.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$1.92 SEK 18.55
42.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$3.28 SEK 31.76
-91.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$74.9 SEK 725
-89.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$6.39 SEK 61.8
-92.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$1.22 SEK 11.84
-65.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$81.6 SEK 790
-92.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.93 SEK 18.72
-58.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$32.8K SEK 317.3K
-18.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$34.7K SEK 336.4K
-7.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$52.0 SEK 504
50.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$21.11 SEK 204
-80.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$36.55 SEK 354
-33.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$40.47 SEK 392
143.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$24.85 SEK 241
-74.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$13.65 SEK 132
-70.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$128 SEK 1,243
137.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$734 SEK 7,102
805.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$74.9 SEK 726
-27.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$10.69 SEK 104
253.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$85.1 SEK 824
2.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$115 SEK 1,111
-33.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$824 SEK 7,975
20.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$663 SEK 6,418
1.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$1,372 SEK 13.3K
146.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$1,065 SEK 10.3K
92.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$3,802 SEK 36.8K
-26.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$3,106 SEK 30.1K
-28.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Bålsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$3,963 SEK 38.4K
-95.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3
342.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bålsta: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $824 in Bålsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 2274% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $67.0 in Bålsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $309 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
Ubud, Bali vs Bålsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Bålsta?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Bålsta. 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 Ubud, Bali or in Bålsta?
On paper, salaries run 2274% lower in Bålsta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Bålsta?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $824 in Bålsta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Bålsta?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,609 in Bålsta – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Bålsta?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 824% less than in Bålsta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Bålsta?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,609 in Bålsta, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Bålsta. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Bålsta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,408 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Bålsta?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Bålsta 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 14% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities