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: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,640 in Bålsta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,500 in Bålsta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,359 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 6% above, Bålsta 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$13.33 SEK 124

-73.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$68.3 SEK 637

-52.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$9.44 SEK 88.1

-47.56%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$4.10 SEK 38.27

-33.90%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$2.78 SEK 25.92

-51.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$2.40 SEK 22.43

-70.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$7.35 SEK 68.6

-60.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$7.51 SEK 70.1

-47.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.62 SEK 15.16

11.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$2.08 SEK 19.41

21.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$3.79 SEK 35.36

-69.39%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$3.91 SEK 36.51

-37.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$11.38 SEK 106

29.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$11.86 SEK 111

-63.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$11.38 SEK 106

6.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.72 SEK 25.37

41.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$2.65 SEK 24.76

-41.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$2.38 SEK 22.20

18.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$2.92 SEK 27.27

-20.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.56 SEK 14.56

22.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.30 SEK 12.14

69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.60 SEK 14.97

-36.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.04 SEK 9.68

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$7.52 SEK 70.2

-55.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$10.83 SEK 101

119.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.55 SEK 14.49

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.95 SEK 18.23

46.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$3.41 SEK 31.82

-92.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$73.0 SEK 681

-89.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$6.20 SEK 57.9

-92.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.19 SEK 11.14

-62.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$81.6 SEK 761

-92.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.93 SEK 18.05

-59.07%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$32.0K SEK 298.3K

-18.19%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$34.4K SEK 320.8K

-6.59%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$53.1 SEK 495

50.55%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$20.82 SEK 194

-80.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$36.89 SEK 344

-36.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$39.85 SEK 372

147.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$25.53 SEK 238

-74.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$13.50 SEK 126

-69.26%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$125 SEK 1,165

143.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$748 SEK 6,978

784.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$75.3 SEK 703

-26.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$10.66 SEK 99.5

259.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$84.6 SEK 789

4.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$115 SEK 1,074

-32.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$842 SEK 7,860

19.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$664 SEK 6,199

1.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$1,413 SEK 13.2K

143.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$1,074 SEK 10.0K

89.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$4,129 SEK 38.5K

-31.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$2,918 SEK 27.2K

-22.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$4,120 SEK 38.4K

-95.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

342.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bålsta: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $842 in Bålsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 2393% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $68.0 in Bålsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 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

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, Bålsta earns 2393% less. 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: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $842 in Bålsta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,640 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 809% less than in Bålsta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,640 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 $1,419 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.