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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,410 in Molde.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,669 in Molde.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,929 in Molde.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 42% less than in Molde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Molde 79% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$25.59 NOK 243
-86.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$79.4 NOK 754
-59.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$13.54 NOK 129
-64.11%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$5.18 NOK 49.13
-46.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$2.88 NOK 27.32
-54.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$2.66 NOK 25.26
-73.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$9.06 NOK 86.0
-67.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$9.96 NOK 94.6
-61.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$2.20 NOK 20.87
-22.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$3.01 NOK 28.58
-17.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$3.87 NOK 36.76
-68.99%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.09 NOK 29.28
-21.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$9.05 NOK 85.9
58.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$16.79 NOK 159
-74.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$27.72 NOK 263
-55.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$2.50 NOK 23.75
47.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$3.06 NOK 29.03
-49.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$3.38 NOK 32.13
-17.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$5.55 NOK 52.6
-58.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$1.53 NOK 14.56
28.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$2.29 NOK 21.70
0.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.58 NOK 24.46
-58.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$1.84 NOK 17.51
-60.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$18.27 NOK 173
-82.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$18.17 NOK 173
25.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$2.91 NOK 27.65
-3.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$4.01 NOK 38.06
-30.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$4.31 NOK 40.89
-93.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$82.8 NOK 786
-90.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$10.18 NOK 96.6
-95.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$1.38 NOK 13.10
-67.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$47.05 NOK 447
-86.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$2.24 NOK 21.31
-62.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$35.9K NOK 340.5K
-27.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$39.0K NOK 370.5K
-18.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$241 NOK 2,291
-66.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$37.92 NOK 360
-89.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$54.6 NOK 518
-55.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$50.0 NOK 475
95.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$35.26 NOK 335
-81.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$16.69 NOK 158
-75.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$200 NOK 1,901
51.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$10.3K NOK 97.5K
-35.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$97.7 NOK 927
-44.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$52.3 NOK 497
-25.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$102 NOK 964
-15.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$151 NOK 1,434
-49.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$1,174 NOK 11.1K
-16.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$903 NOK 8,574
-27.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$1,439 NOK 13.7K
134.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$1,456 NOK 13.8K
41.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$6,190 NOK 58.8K
-55.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$4,482 NOK 42.5K
-50.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Molde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$3,624 NOK 34.4K
-95.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.75
254.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Molde: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $1,174 in Molde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Molde pays 2118% 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 $79.0 in Molde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $447 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 Molde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Molde cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Molde?
On paper, Molde earns 2118% 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 Molde?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,174 in Molde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $200 in Molde. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Molde?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Molde. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Molde?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,410 in Molde, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Molde. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Molde more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Molde, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Molde?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Molde 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 72% less than in Molde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities