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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $641 in Bujumbura versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,179 in Bujumbura versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,716 in Bujumbura versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Bujumbura costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bujumbura is 54% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86 BIF 11.5K
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
15.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 BIF 191.4K
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
79.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.82 BIF 11.4K
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
-32.15%
Cappuccino
$3.10 BIF 9,243
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
9.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 BIF 5,176
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
-0.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 BIF 4,087
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
71.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 BIF 6,408
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
-29.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.72 BIF 20.0K
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
56.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 BIF 2,921
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
-39.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 BIF 5,879
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-13.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 BIF 6,087
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
74.36%
Eggs
$3.54 BIF 10.6K
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
63.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.14 BIF 24.3K
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-53.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.05 BIF 33.0K
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
172.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.46 BIF 34.2K
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
-5.91%
Apples (1kg)
$5.77 BIF 17.2K
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
59.39%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 BIF 6,030
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-12.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 BIF 4,839
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
-17.35%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 BIF 6,086
$0.54 Rp 9,560
277.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 BIF 33.4K
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-51.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 BIF 6,414
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-8.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 BIF 12.0K
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
30.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 BIF 2,974
$0.25 Rp 4,365
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.18 BIF 90.0K
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
220.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 BIF 14.6K
$0.49 Rp 8,631
902.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.36 BIF 10.0K
$0.47 Rp 8,349
614.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.50 BIF 88.0K
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
426.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 BIF 4,034
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.07 BIF 24.1K
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
24.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 BIF 203.2K
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
262.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.27 BIF 78.4K
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-52.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$1.66 BIF 4,939
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-61.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$100 BIF 299.3K
$494 Rp 8.7M
-79.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K BIF 30.4M
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
71.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 BIF 1.3M
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-60.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.4 BIF 275.6K
$693 Rp 12.2M
-86.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 BIF 4.0M
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-62.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$271 BIF 807.8K
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-84.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,019 BIF 6.0M
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-26.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,630 BIF 4.9M
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-28.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$362 BIF 1.1M
$167 Rp 2.9M
116.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.17
13.78
2.83%

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

Last update for Bujumbura: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Bujumbura and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bujumbura pays 116% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64.0 in Bujumbura vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $294, with Bujumbura cheaper for home cooking.

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
Bujumbura vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bujumbura or Ubud, Bali?
Bujumbura wins on cost – living expenses run 115% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bujumbura the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bujumbura or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 116% higher in Bujumbura, 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 Bujumbura compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Bujumbura versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bujumbura compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $641 per month in Bujumbura versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bujumbura compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Bujumbura runs roughly 220% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bujumbura or in Ubud, Bali?
At $641 in Bujumbura versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bujumbura but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bujumbura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bujumbura or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bujumbura delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $641 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bujumbura hard to pass up.
How safe is Bujumbura compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Bujumbura 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 Bujumbura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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