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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,376 in Grimstad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,522 in Grimstad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,667 in Grimstad.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 40% less than in Grimstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 6% above, Grimstad 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$23.19 NOK 215
-84.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$50.5 NOK 469
-35.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$14.85 NOK 138
-66.67%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$4.59 NOK 42.64
-40.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$4.13 NOK 38.33
-67.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$3.30 NOK 30.64
-78.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$12.12 NOK 113
-75.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$10.08 NOK 93.7
-60.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$2.37 NOK 22.03
-23.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$3.17 NOK 29.46
-20.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$3.02 NOK 28.06
-61.59%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$3.28 NOK 30.45
-25.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$10.70 NOK 99.4
37.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$13.68 NOK 127
-68.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$16.50 NOK 153
-26.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$1.98 NOK 18.36
93.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$2.34 NOK 21.70
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$3.44 NOK 31.93
-17.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$3.98 NOK 36.99
-41.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$2.51 NOK 23.31
-23.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$2.69 NOK 25.03
-18.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$2.85 NOK 26.44
-64.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.79 NOK 16.66
-56.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$17.44 NOK 162
-80.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$15.90 NOK 148
49.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$3.35 NOK 31.10
-16.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$4.30 NOK 39.96
-33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$5.00 NOK 46.43
-94.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$76.8 NOK 714
-89.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$10.17 NOK 94.5
-95.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$1.45 NOK 13.51
-68.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$41.98 NOK 390
-85.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$2.17 NOK 20.20
-63.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$36.0K NOK 334.7K
-27.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$42.7K NOK 396.4K
-24.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$305 NOK 2,833
-73.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$27.64 NOK 257
-85.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$56.3 NOK 523
-58.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$50.1 NOK 466
96.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$35.26 NOK 328
-81.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$14.95 NOK 139
-72.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$271 NOK 2,513
12.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$14.9K NOK 138.7K
-55.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$49.92 NOK 464
11.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$61.6 NOK 572
-37.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$100 NOK 930
-11.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$163 NOK 1,517
-52.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,214 NOK 11.3K
-17.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$891 NOK 8,280
-24.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$1,790 NOK 16.6K
92.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$1,535 NOK 14.3K
32.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Grimstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$4,641 NOK 43.1K
-96.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.9
171.02%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Grimstad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $1,214 in Grimstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grimstad pays 2709% 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 $51.0 in Grimstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $391 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 Grimstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grimstad cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Grimstad?
On paper, Grimstad earns 2709% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Grimstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,214 in Grimstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Grimstad?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,376 in Grimstad – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 857% less than in Grimstad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Grimstad?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,376 in Grimstad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Grimstad. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Grimstad more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Grimstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Grimstad?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Grimstad 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 67% less than in Grimstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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