Cost of Living: Bali vs Stockholm (2026)

Indonesia vs Sweden — relocation comparison

TL;DRBali is 40% cheaper on rent ($1082/mo vs $1816/mo). Bali is safer — homicide rate 0.3 vs 1.1 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
75
Livability Score
🇸🇪 Stockholm
Sweden
Full profile
Stockholm scores 75 to Bali's 65 on livability — the gap is real. Bali has its charms, but the numbers favor Stockholm.
💰
Cost of Living
Bali
$735/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Stockholm
9.4/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
29°C vs 20°C summers
🗣️
English
Stockholm
higher proficiency score
Bali
Metric
Stockholm
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1816/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$908/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$3,990
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.1 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
47 / 100
29°C
☀️
Summer high
20°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
-4°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
190 Mbps
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
9.4 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (86/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
2.8%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
75 / 100
60/100 — Patchy
Grid reliability
82/100 — Mostly stable
56/100
🗽
Freedom House
99/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

369
PISA
country avg
488
15
Intl schools
4
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
Yes (Swedish)
Pediatric care
Free for all children; excellent child health clinics (BVC)
Specialist wait
4–12 weeks
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$174/mo
capped*

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Industries
fintechgamingictlife-sciences
nascent
Startup ecosystem
hub
60/100
Grid reliability
82/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Easy
EU visa
Easy
Easy
RU visa
Complex
Easy
UA visa
Easy
Your partner gets to watch you work
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 40% cheaper in Bali ($1082/mo vs $1816/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in Bali (29°C vs 20°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 1.1 per 100k).
  • Stockholm scores higher on democracy (9.4 vs 6.8 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Stockholm (86/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Stockholm — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Stockholm?

Bali is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1082/month in Bali vs $1816/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Stockholm?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Stockholm has 1.10 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Stockholm?

Stockholm scores 75 to Bali's 65 on livability — the gap is real. Bali has its charms, but the numbers favor Stockholm. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Bali or Stockholm?

Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Stockholm: Sweden Self-Employment Permit (complex process, 2 years (renewable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Bali or Stockholm?

Bali is warmer in summer (29°C vs 20°C). Stockholm has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Bali or Stockholm without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Stockholm (EF EPI score: 86/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Stockholm, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Bali, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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