😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,694 in Umea versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,666 in Umea versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,638 in Umea versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Umea is roughly 19% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Umea26% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.05SEK 150
$3.56Rp 63.7K
350.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4SEK 796
$32.73Rp 584.5K
160.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41SEK 106
$4.95Rp 88.4K
130.51%
Cappuccino
$4.29SEK 40.00
$2.71Rp 48.4K
58.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39SEK 31.65
$1.34Rp 24.0K
152.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 23.45
$0.70Rp 12.5K
258.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.11SEK 85.0
$2.92Rp 52.1K
211.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.55SEK 70.4
$3.96Rp 70.7K
90.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69SEK 15.80
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-6.63%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58SEK 33.37
$2.52Rp 45.0K
42.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.32SEK 40.31
$1.16Rp 20.7K
272.41%
Eggs
$4.29SEK 40.00
$2.46Rp 43.9K
74.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.93SEK 111
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-18.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.05SEK 103
$4.32Rp 77.1K
155.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.30SEK 171
$12.14Rp 216.7K
50.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84SEK 26.48
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-26.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39SEK 22.30
$1.56Rp 27.8K
53.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84SEK 26.47
$2.83Rp 50.6K
0.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.44SEK 41.41
$2.33Rp 41.5K
90.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68SEK 15.65
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-12.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82SEK 16.96
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-17.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62SEK 24.40
$1.01Rp 18.1K
159.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48SEK 13.78
$0.78Rp 13.8K
89.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.70SEK 62.5
$3.32Rp 59.2K
101.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.34SEK 106
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-52.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66SEK 15.46
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-40.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22SEK 20.76
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-22.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14SEK 29.31
$0.27Rp 4,800
1062.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.1SEK 552
$8.03Rp 143.4K
636.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.22SEK 48.74
$0.46Rp 8,150
1034.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 14.97
$0.45Rp 8,037
255.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.06SEK 439
$6.10Rp 108.9K
671.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95SEK 18.18
$0.79Rp 14.2K
146.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEK 305.4K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
25.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KSEK 328.7K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
9.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.8SEK 632
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-15.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.49SEK 322
$4.06Rp 72.6K
749.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.30SEK 255
$23.52Rp 420.0K
16.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7SEK 483
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-47.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.59SEK 360
$6.63Rp 118.4K
482.05%
Cinema Ticket
$15.92SEK 149
$4.15Rp 74.1K
283.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149SEK 1,388
$304Rp 5.4M
-51.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,094SEK 38.2K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-38.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.1SEK 925
$55.5Rp 991.8K
78.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.23SEK 357
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-0.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,171
$88.6Rp 1.6M
41.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136SEK 1,267
$77.9Rp 1.4M
74.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$793SEK 7,395
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-21.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$530SEK 4,942
$675Rp 12.1M
-21.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,192SEK 11.1K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-65.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$895SEK 8,347
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-56.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,972SEK 46.4K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
75.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,309SEK 30.9K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
46.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umea
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,875SEK 26.8K
$165Rp 3.0M
1640.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
13.28
-65.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Umea: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $793 in Umea and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Umea pays 1640% 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: $85.0 in Umea vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $302 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
Umea vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Umea or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Umea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Umea or Ubud, Bali?
Umea pays 1640% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Umea vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $793 in Umea versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Umea and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $149 in Umea versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Umea or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Umea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Umea or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,694 in Umea, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Umea. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Umea or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Umea compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Umea and Ubud, Bali 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Umea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.