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: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,626 in Bålsta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,567 in Bålsta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,507 in Bålsta.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 14% less than in Bålsta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% above, Bålsta 18% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$14.20 SEK 136

-76.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

$68.1 SEK 652

-43.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$9.12 SEK 87.3

-39.47%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$4.32 SEK 41.34

-38.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$2.79 SEK 26.66

-40.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$2.29 SEK 21.90

-66.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$7.26 SEK 69.4

-63.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$7.36 SEK 70.4

-41.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.55 SEK 14.83

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$2.05 SEK 19.62

8.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$3.70 SEK 35.43

-69.46%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$3.81 SEK 36.41

-45.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.6K

$11.69 SEK 112

48.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$12.50 SEK 120

-69.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.2K

$11.46 SEK 110

9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$2.69 SEK 25.74

34.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$2.80 SEK 26.79

-44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$2.15 SEK 20.54

9.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$2.97 SEK 28.38

-30.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$1.54 SEK 14.75

23.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.28 SEK 12.24

82.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$1.62 SEK 15.50

-36.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,779

$1.07 SEK 10.24

-48.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$7.27 SEK 69.6

-69.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

$10.58 SEK 101

125.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$1.55 SEK 14.84

49.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

$2.08 SEK 19.86

34.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,802

$3.47 SEK 33.16

-92.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

$80.2 SEK 767

-89.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$6.04 SEK 57.8

-92.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.60 SEK 15.34

-71.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

$83.0 SEK 794

-93.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.84 SEK 17.65

-58.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 431.6M

$35.4K SEK 338.5K

-30.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

$34.3K SEK 327.9K

-6.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$53.6 SEK 513

55.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$21.09 SEK 202

-69.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.8K

$41.49 SEK 397

-54.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 986.8K

$39.72 SEK 380

40.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

$26.61 SEK 255

-30.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$13.50 SEK 129

-68.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 Rp 8.6M

$127 SEK 1,213

283.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

$5,225 SEK 50.0K

12.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

$73.2 SEK 700

-37.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

$10.59 SEK 101

243.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$84.1 SEK 804

-2.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$115 SEK 1,103

-30.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$856 SEK 8,185

30.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$626 SEK 5,992

11.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$1,390 SEK 13.3K

154.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$1,066 SEK 10.2K

65.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

$4,199 SEK 40.2K

-32.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

$2,939 SEK 28.1K

-22.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$4,069 SEK 38.9K

-95.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

359.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bålsta: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $856 in Bålsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 2297% 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: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $68.0 in Bålsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $311 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

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 16% 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.

On paper, salaries run 2297% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $856 in Bålsta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,626 in Bålsta – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 826% less than in Bålsta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,626 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.