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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$15.54 SEK 145
-77.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$67.2 SEK 625
-51.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$10.96 SEK 102
-53.74%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$4.81 SEK 44.77
-41.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$2.57 SEK 23.87
-47.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$2.12 SEK 19.73
-67.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$8.27 SEK 76.9
-63.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$8.20 SEK 76.3
-53.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.41 SEK 13.11
23.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$2.85 SEK 26.52
-10.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$3.79 SEK 35.23
-68.60%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$4.86 SEK 45.17
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$12.00 SEK 112
22.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$13.92 SEK 129
-69.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$17.02 SEK 158
-29.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$3.09 SEK 28.73
19.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$2.55 SEK 23.75
-36.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$3.26 SEK 30.29
-17.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$4.99 SEK 46.37
-53.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$1.58 SEK 14.73
20.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.74 SEK 16.16
25.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$2.62 SEK 24.37
-59.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.27 SEK 11.84
-43.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$7.25 SEK 67.4
-56.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$10.87 SEK 101
116.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$1.76 SEK 16.33
55.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$1.71 SEK 15.94
68.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$3.20 SEK 29.73
-90.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$85.0 SEK 791
-90.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$5.69 SEK 52.9
-92.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.36 SEK 12.65
-69.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$64.2 SEK 597
-90.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$2.01 SEK 18.73
-58.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$32.0K SEK 297.4K
-17.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$34.0K SEK 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)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$108 SEK 1,004
-27.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$29.61 SEK 275
-86.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$42.92 SEK 399
-43.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$46.25 SEK 430
108.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$17.56 SEK 163
-63.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$14.65 SEK 136
-72.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$150 SEK 1,393
101.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$3,178 SEK 29.6K
105.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$86.7 SEK 806
-37.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$42.09 SEK 391
-9.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$80.7 SEK 750
7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$147 SEK 1,368
-46.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$1,046 SEK 9,726
-3.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$572 SEK 5,321
17.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$1,240 SEK 11.5K
173.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$882 SEK 8,198
138.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Karlstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$3,375 SEK 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.

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