Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloemfontein and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Bloemfontein: $1,058 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bloemfontein, South Africa
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bloemfontein
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,058
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bloemfontein and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bloemfontein and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,058 per month in Bloemfontein vs $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bloemfontein $1,058
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Bloemfontein vs $2,305 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bloemfontein $1,668
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

A family of three spends $2,278 per month in Bloemfontein vs $3,261 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bloemfontein $2,278
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Bloemfontein is about 22% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.85 R 197
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
256.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.31 R 669
$35.64 Rp 647.3K
13.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 R 116
$5.53 Rp 100.5K
26.22%
Cappuccino
$2.10 R 34.83
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-22.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 22.90
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-18.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 R 18.71
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
48.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 R 41.67
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
-5.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 R 46.02
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
-36.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 R 17.17
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
-30.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 17.07
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
-54.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 R 34.40
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
73.95%
Eggs
$2.15 R 35.64
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
5.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.57 R 126
$17.70 Rp 321.5K
-57.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.86 R 80.7
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
22.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.03 R 133
$12.19 Rp 221.4K
-34.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 R 31.25
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
-48.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.69
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
-1.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 R 29.65
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
-19.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 R 24.91
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-23.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 R 25.04
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
-18.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 R 30.26
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
-24.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 R 18.94
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
15.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 R 15.29
$0.51 Rp 9,324
80.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 R 40.44
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
9.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.92 R 81.7
$22.24 Rp 403.9K
-77.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 R 30.05
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
-19.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 R 22.54
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
-54.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R 15.33
$0.25 Rp 4,559
268.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.8 R 1,259
$7.82 Rp 142.1K
869.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R 17.42
$0.44 Rp 7,982
138.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.43 Rp 7,811
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 R 24.29
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
78.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K R 594.8K
$23.8K Rp 433.0M
50.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K R 484.9K
$31.7K Rp 576.6M
-8.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 R 1,300
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-0.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.92 R 547
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
410.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.36 R 537
$18.58 Rp 337.4K
74.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.39 R 521
$49.48 Rp 898.7K
-36.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.65 Rp 320.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 R 82.1
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
15.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$194 R 3,228
$491 Rp 8.9M
-60.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 R 996
$44.64 Rp 810.7K
34.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.72 R 693
$34.95 Rp 634.8K
19.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 R 2,230
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
68.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 R 1,891
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
43.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$311 R 5,165
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-72.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 R 4,629
$671 Rp 12.2M
-58.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$510 R 8,467
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
-85.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$529 R 8,786
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-69.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$477 R 7,919
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-82.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$617 R 10.3K
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-72.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloemfontein
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,291 R 21.4K
$164 Rp 3.0M
687.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.13
13.78
-11.97%

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

Last update for Bloemfontein: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bloemfontein
$279
Ubud, Bali
$672 141% $393
Groceries & Markets
Bloemfontein
$187
Ubud, Bali
$288 54.3% $102
Eating Out
Bloemfontein
$169
Ubud, Bali
$108 36.3% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Bloemfontein
$157
Ubud, Bali
$108 31.7% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloemfontein
$144
Ubud, Bali
$104 27.5% $39
Getting Around
Bloemfontein
$81 *
Ubud, Bali
$11 85.8% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Bloemfontein
$41
Ubud, Bali
$58 40.6% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $311 in Bloemfontein versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Bloemfontein are about 7.9 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40 in Bloemfontein versus $36 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $187 in Bloemfontein vs $288 in Ubud, Bali – so Bloemfontein wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇿🇦 Bloemfontein
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
06:11 6:11 AM
12:11 12:11 PM
6 h ahead of Bloemfontein
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
370,000 Capital
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to ZAR – South African Rand Converter

South African Rand exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 16.61 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.02 USD). 1 EUR = 18.61 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.37 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,355 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bloemfontein Ubud, Bali 9,460 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bloemfontein
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bloemfontein vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bloemfontein or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 28% more than Bloemfontein, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bloemfontein and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,586 per month in Bloemfontein and $2,023 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bloemfontein or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bloemfontein, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $311 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Are groceries more expensive in Bloemfontein or in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Ubud, Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Bloemfontein and in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40 in Bloemfontein and $36 in Ubud, Bali. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bloemfontein or in Ubud, Bali?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,058 in Bloemfontein and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Bloemfontein – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Bloemfontein vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?