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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,706 in Kristiansand.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,081 in Kristiansand.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,457 in Kristiansand.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 48% less than in Kristiansand, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% above, Kristiansand 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
$29.29 NOK 273
-88.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
$84.6 NOK 788
-54.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
$16.30 NOK 152
-66.13%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
$4.70 NOK 43.75
-43.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
$3.28 NOK 30.53
-49.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
$2.43 NOK 22.63
-68.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
$12.92 NOK 120
-79.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
$8.83 NOK 82.3
-51.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
$2.35 NOK 21.85
-34.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$3.62 NOK 33.72
-38.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
$3.99 NOK 37.21
-71.68%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
$5.63 NOK 52.5
-62.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
$13.06 NOK 122
33.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
$15.57 NOK 145
-75.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
$43.87 NOK 409
-71.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
$4.50 NOK 41.90
-19.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
$2.59 NOK 24.13
-39.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
$4.00 NOK 37.29
-41.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
$4.95 NOK 46.12
-58.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$2.53 NOK 23.60
-24.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
$2.44 NOK 22.69
-4.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$3.05 NOK 28.38
-66.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,854
$2.15 NOK 20.07
-74.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
$16.95 NOK 158
-86.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
$16.03 NOK 149
48.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
$3.82 NOK 35.55
-39.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
$3.90 NOK 36.33
-28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,839
$3.78 NOK 35.20
-92.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
$72.4 NOK 675
-88.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,554
$8.14 NOK 75.9
-94.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,924
$1.67 NOK 15.58
-73.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
$58.6 NOK 546
-90.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$2.33 NOK 21.70
-67.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
$48.4K NOK 450.9K
-49.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
$44.3K NOK 412.8K
-27.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$223 NOK 2,082
-62.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
$31.99 NOK 298
-79.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
$60.7 NOK 566
-68.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
$48.83 NOK 455
14.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
$37.35 NOK 348
-50.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
$15.98 NOK 149
-73.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$306 NOK 2,850
59.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
$2,720 NOK 25.3K
115.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
$117 NOK 1,089
-61.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
$58.2 NOK 542
-37.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
$121 NOK 1,127
-32.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$162 NOK 1,514
-50.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
$1,193 NOK 11.1K
-6.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.5M
$1,015 NOK 9,452
-30.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
$1,861 NOK 17.3K
90.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
$1,609 NOK 15.0K
9.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
$4,893 NOK 45.6K
-42.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
$3,581 NOK 33.4K
-35.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kristiansand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$4,268 NOK 39.8K
-96.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.01
175.05%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kristiansand: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $1,193 in Kristiansand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kristiansand pays 2414% 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 $85.0 in Kristiansand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $535 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 Kristiansand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kristiansand cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Kristiansand?
On paper, salaries run 2414% lower in Kristiansand. 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 Kristiansand?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,193 in Kristiansand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kristiansand?
Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Kristiansand. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Kristiansand?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $85.0 in Kristiansand. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Kristiansand?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,706 in Kristiansand, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Kristiansand. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Kristiansand more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kristiansand, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Kristiansand?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kristiansand 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 94% less than in Kristiansand. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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