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 $766 per month in Bulawayo vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,274 per month in Bulawayo vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,782 per month in Bulawayo vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Bulawayo is about 46% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Bulawayo sits 43% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 ZWL 118

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

28.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.55 ZWL 788

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

-8.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ZWL 147

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

14.05%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ZWL 63.8

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

-13.09%

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

$0.52 ZWL 13.89

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-62.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ZWL 11.63

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-41.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ZWL 47.90

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

-39.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ZWL 65.6

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

-36.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ZWL 42.31

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ZWL 26.76

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-59.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ZWL 48.06

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

53.85%

Eggs

$1.81 ZWL 48.39

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

-25.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 ZWL 279

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-27.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 ZWL 104

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

-10.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.31 ZWL 115

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-64.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ZWL 39.36

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

-60.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ZWL 39.66

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ZWL 62.1

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

-14.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZWL 30.20

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-49.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 ZWL 30.56

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

-40.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 ZWL 37.07

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-39.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ZWL 27.39

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ZWL 28.21

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ZWL 41.13

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

-53.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ZWL 133

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 40.72

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

-44.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ZWL 56.9

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

-21.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ZWL 13.81

$0.27 Rp 4,778

92.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.04 ZWL 802

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

270.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 ZWL 79.3

$0.48 Rp 8,659

518.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 ZWL 59.0

$0.42 Rp 7,532

426.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 ZWL 134

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

-19.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 ZWL 43.64

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

102.47%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

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

$71.6 ZWL 1,911

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-8.60%

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

$18.35 ZWL 490

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

350.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$134 ZWL 3,585

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

452.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.50 ZWL 680

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-74.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.95 ZWL 265

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

149.37%

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

$142 ZWL 3,781

$305 Rp 5.5M

-53.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.35 ZWL 570

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-60.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.38 ZWL 357

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

-64.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 ZWL 1,834

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-20.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.9 ZWL 1,491

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-26.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$184 ZWL 4,899

$992 Rp 17.8M

-81.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 ZWL 2,992

$673 Rp 12.1M

-83.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ZWL 12.2K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-86.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 ZWL 11.1K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-79.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,118 ZWL 56.5K

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

-24.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,063 ZWL 55.0K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-7.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$301 ZWL 8,034

$167 Rp 3.0M

80.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Bulawayo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $184 in Bulawayo versus $992 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 80% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $297 – 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 84%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,149 per month in Bulawayo and $2,112 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 $766 in Bulawayo and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 270% 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 $766, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.