Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bulawayo and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Bulawayo: $753 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bulawayo
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
$753
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bulawayo 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 Bulawayo and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $753 per month in Bulawayo vs $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bulawayo $753
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

A couple spends around $1,197 per month in Bulawayo vs $2,297 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bulawayo $1,197
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

A family of three spends $1,641 per month in Bulawayo vs $3,241 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bulawayo $1,641
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Bulawayo is about 44% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Bulawayo sits 44% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.38 ZWL 116
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
35.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.55 ZWL 786
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ZWL 131
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
-13.68%
Cappuccino
$2.07 ZWL 55.0
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
-20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZWL 13.03
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
-71.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ZWL 9.80
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-54.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 ZWL 40.45
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
-42.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ZWL 54.7
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
-53.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 ZWL 44.60
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
7.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ZWL 27.25
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
-53.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ZWL 41.16
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
31.36%
Eggs
$1.92 ZWL 51.0
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.62 ZWL 256
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-45.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.82 ZWL 102
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
1.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.43 ZWL 118
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
-62.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 ZWL 49.79
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
-48.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ZWL 41.00
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-3.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 ZWL 66.1
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
7.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 ZWL 27.97
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-45.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ZWL 33.99
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-28.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 ZWL 38.15
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-38.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ZWL 30.26
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
14.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ZWL 19.73
$0.53 Rp 9,509
39.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54 ZWL 41.08
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-32.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.93 ZWL 131
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-77.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 ZWL 37.30
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-40.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ZWL 51.0
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-35.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 ZWL 19.55
$0.23 Rp 4,112
217.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.52 ZWL 812
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
242.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 ZWL 79.1
$0.47 Rp 8,466
531.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 ZWL 52.5
$0.43 Rp 7,737
358.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.86 ZWL 129
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
-11.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 ZWL 44.33
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
101.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ZWL 666.5K
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
4.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K ZWL 670.4K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-23.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.0 ZWL 2,553
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
19.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.53 ZWL 467
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
167.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$107 ZWL 2,854
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
476.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.10 ZWL 828
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-42.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.78 ZWL 526
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
8.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18 ZWL 271
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
139.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 ZWL 6,086
$493 Rp 8.9M
-53.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,517 ZWL 93.6K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
-37.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08 ZWL 561
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
-53.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.71 ZWL 311
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
-66.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.35 ZWL 1,207
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
-41.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.4 ZWL 1,580
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
-24.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$176 ZWL 4,689
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
-84.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 ZWL 2,828
$673 Rp 12.1M
-84.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$415 ZWL 11.0K
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-88.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 ZWL 8,376
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
-81.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,134 ZWL 56.8K
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-21.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,002 ZWL 53.3K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-10.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bulawayo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$302 ZWL 8,035
$166 Rp 3.0M
81.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
13.78
8.85%

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

Last update for Bulawayo: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulawayo
$221
Ubud, Bali
$105 52.4% $116
Groceries & Markets
Bulawayo
$177
Ubud, Bali
$287 62.5% $110
Accommodation & Living
Bulawayo
$106
Ubud, Bali
$673 533% $567
Eating Out
Bulawayo
$90
Ubud, Bali
$106 18.7% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Bulawayo
$62
Ubud, Bali
$107 72.2% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Bulawayo
$51
Ubud, Bali
$63 21.7% $11
Getting Around
Bulawayo
$46
Ubud, Bali
$12 73.2% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $176 in Bulawayo versus $1,131 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 81% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $287 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇿🇼 Bulawayo
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
13:39 1:39 PM
19:39 7:39 PM
6 h ahead of Bulawayo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
653,337
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to ZWL – Zimbabwean Dollar Converter

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 26.61 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.92 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bulawayo Ubud, Bali 9,340 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bulawayo
  • 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
Bulawayo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Bulawayo?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 80%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,130 per month in Bulawayo and $2,030 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Bulawayo and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $753 in Bulawayo and $1,353 in Ubud, Bali. That's a gap of about 80%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 243% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bulawayo or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,353. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bulawayo or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Bulawayo or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Bulawayo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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