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: $509 in Bujumbura versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $955 in Bujumbura versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,401 in Bujumbura versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Bujumbura costs roughly 65% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bujumbura is 62% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79 BIF 5,347
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
-49.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.72 BIF 100.5K
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
3.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.76 BIF 11.2K
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
-25.84%
Cappuccino
$3.53 BIF 10.5K
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
24.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 BIF 5,006
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
25.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 BIF 3,250
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
57.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 BIF 6,398
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 BIF 17.7K
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
54.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 BIF 2,336
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-55.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 BIF 3,987
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-47.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 BIF 4,820
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
36.13%
Eggs
$3.42 BIF 10.2K
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
40.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.45 BIF 31.2K
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-28.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.04 BIF 29.9K
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
140.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.98 BIF 29.7K
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-16.42%
Apples (1kg)
$5.85 BIF 17.4K
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
58.54%
Banana (1kg)
$0.51 BIF 1,510
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-68.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 BIF 5,050
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-37.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 BIF 4,057
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-41.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 BIF 1,491
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-73.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 BIF 1,777
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-72.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 BIF 1,430
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-54.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 BIF 4,807
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
123.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 BIF 7,055
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
-24.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.87 BIF 50.3K
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-28.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 BIF 5,887
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-28.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 BIF 9,478
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
10.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 BIF 2,984
$0.29 Rp 5,010
244.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.47 BIF 90.8K
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
272.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 BIF 20.5K
$0.45 Rp 7,834
1428.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 BIF 10.2K
$0.42 Rp 7,278
716.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.60 BIF 88.2K
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
380.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 BIF 4,073
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
63.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.56 BIF 7,635
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
-35.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 BIF 310.3K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-65.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K BIF 31.1M
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
59.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 BIF 851.9K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-71.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$72.4 BIF 215.7K
$674 Rp 11.6M
-89.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 BIF 1.4M
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-85.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 BIF 862.2K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-86.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,078 BIF 6.2M
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-30.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,632 BIF 4.9M
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-30.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bujumbura
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$382 BIF 1.1M
$173 Rp 3.0M
120.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.17
13.28
6.70%

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

Last update for Bujumbura: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Bujumbura and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bujumbura pays 121% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Bujumbura vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $298, 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 183% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Bujumbura pays 121% 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 Bujumbura vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Bujumbura versus $1,012 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 $509 per month in Bujumbura versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 183% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bujumbura vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Bujumbura runs roughly 273% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $509 in Bujumbura versus $1,438 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 $509 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 183% 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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