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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $757 per month in Bulawayo vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,206 per month in Bulawayo vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,654 per month in Bulawayo vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Bulawayo is about 46% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bulawayo sits 45% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ZWL 124

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

37.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.35 ZWL 811

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

-21.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 ZWL 132

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

-10.51%

Cappuccino

$2.06 ZWL 55.1

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

-21.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZWL 12.93

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-71.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ZWL 9.76

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ZWL 40.44

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

-42.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

-53.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ZWL 44.38

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

7.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.34

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-54.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZWL 42.16

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

39.82%

Eggs

$1.90 ZWL 50.7

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 ZWL 260

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

-43.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ZWL 104

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

1.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.54 ZWL 121

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

-63.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ZWL 47.72

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-50.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ZWL 41.18

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 ZWL 64.1

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ZWL 27.07

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-50.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ZWL 34.13

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ZWL 37.86

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-39.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZWL 30.81

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

11.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZWL 21.64

$0.55 Rp 9,809

47.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.52 ZWL 40.61

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

-32.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.02 ZWL 134

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-78.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ZWL 37.44

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

-39.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ZWL 49.42

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

-33.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ZWL 20.70

$0.27 Rp 4,816

185.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.60 ZWL 791

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

241.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 ZWL 82.5

$0.48 Rp 8,515

543.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 ZWL 52.0

$0.45 Rp 7,887

331.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 ZWL 133

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

-13.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 ZWL 44.49

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

118.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ZWL 660.6K

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

0.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K ZWL 681.0K

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

-20.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.6 ZWL 2,529

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

13.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.39 ZWL 465

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

169.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$106 ZWL 2,840

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

459.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.76 ZWL 822

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

-45.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.77 ZWL 528

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

6.18%

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 ZWL 269

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

135.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$230 ZWL 6,158

$487 Rp 8.6M

-52.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,527 ZWL 94.2K

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

-39.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.48 ZWL 574

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

-52.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.44 ZWL 306

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

-68.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.01 ZWL 1,229

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

-43.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.4 ZWL 1,534

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-28.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$172 ZWL 4,595

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-84.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 ZWL 2,929

$701 Rp 12.4M

-84.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$412 ZWL 11.0K

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-88.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ZWL 8,672

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-81.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,082 ZWL 55.6K

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

-26.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,047 ZWL 54.7K

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

-10.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$304 ZWL 8,113

$170 Rp 3.0M

78.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

8.85%

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

Last update for Bulawayo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $172 in Bulawayo versus $1,117 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 run about 79% higher in Bulawayo, 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 $30.00 in Bulawayo versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $293 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bulawayo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 85%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,135 per month in Bulawayo and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $757 in Bulawayo and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 242% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $757, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bulawayo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.