🙂A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,767 in Karlstad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,725 in Karlstad, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,683 in Karlstad, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 19% cheaper than Karlstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and Karlstad sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Karlstad by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$15.54SEK 145
-77.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$67.2SEK 625
-51.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$10.96SEK 102
-53.74%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$4.81SEK 44.77
-41.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$2.57SEK 23.87
-47.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$2.12SEK 19.73
-67.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$8.27SEK 76.9
-63.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$8.20SEK 76.3
-53.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$1.41SEK 13.11
23.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$2.85SEK 26.52
-10.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$3.79SEK 35.23
-68.60%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$4.86SEK 45.17
-50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$12.00SEK 112
22.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$13.92SEK 129
-69.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$17.02SEK 158
-29.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$3.09SEK 28.73
19.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$2.55SEK 23.75
-36.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$3.26SEK 30.29
-17.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$4.99SEK 46.37
-53.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$1.58SEK 14.73
20.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$1.74SEK 16.16
25.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$2.62SEK 24.37
-59.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$1.27SEK 11.84
-43.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$7.25SEK 67.4
-56.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$10.87SEK 101
116.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$1.76SEK 16.33
55.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$1.71SEK 15.94
68.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$3.20SEK 29.73
-90.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
$85.0SEK 791
-90.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$5.69SEK 52.9
-92.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$1.36SEK 12.65
-69.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$64.2SEK 597
-90.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$2.01SEK 18.73
-58.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$32.0KSEK 297.4K
-17.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$34.0KSEK 316.0K
-4.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$108SEK 1,004
-27.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$29.61SEK 275
-86.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$42.92SEK 399
-43.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$46.25SEK 430
108.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
$17.56SEK 163
-63.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$14.65SEK 136
-72.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$150SEK 1,393
101.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$3,178SEK 29.6K
105.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$86.7SEK 806
-37.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$42.09SEK 391
-9.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$80.7SEK 750
7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$147SEK 1,368
-46.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$1,046SEK 9,726
-3.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$572SEK 5,321
17.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$1,240SEK 11.5K
173.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$882SEK 8,198
138.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$3,375SEK 31.4K
-94.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
4.8
176.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Karlstad: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,046 in Karlstad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 1850% higher in Karlstad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $67.0 in Karlstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $371 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Karlstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlstad cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Karlstad is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,651 in Karlstad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Karlstad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $67.0 in Karlstad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Karlstad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $1,767 in Karlstad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Karlstad?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Karlstad at $1,767. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karlstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Karlstad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Karlstad?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karlstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared