🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $524 in Garowe versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $705 in Garowe versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $885 in Garowe versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Garowe costs roughly 62% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Garowe is 62% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$3.37Rp 59.5K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.89SOS 5,051
$38.59Rp 680.3K
-76.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.52Rp 97.3K
-
Cappuccino
$3.02SOS 1,717
$2.64Rp 46.6K
14.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54SOS 877
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-7.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19SOS 106
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-75.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$32.86SOS 18.7K
$2.63Rp 46.4K
1149.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.28Rp 75.5K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.13Rp 19.8K
-
Eggs
-
$2.09Rp 36.8K
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$17.39Rp 306.6K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.87Rp 68.2K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.55Rp 221.2K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.56Rp 27.5K
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.35Rp 41.5K
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.06Rp 36.2K
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.90Rp 33.5K
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.03Rp 18.2K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27SOS 722
$0.55Rp 9,779
130.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.25Rp 39.7K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.81Rp 419.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.80Rp 49.4K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31SOS 178
$0.27Rp 4,802
14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.66Rp 152.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54SOS 875
$0.48Rp 8,489
220.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 7,863
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.90SOS 2,781
$5.72Rp 100.8K
-14.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.76Rp 13.4K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$24.5KRp 431.6M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1KRp 566.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121SOS 68.9K
$83.6Rp 1.5M
45.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.99SOS 5,673
$6.46Rp 113.8K
54.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.73SOS 28.2K
$18.99Rp 334.8K
161.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.78SOS 11.2K
$56.0Rp 986.8K
-64.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.28Rp 75.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.59SOS 19.6K
$487Rp 8.6M
-92.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,856Rp 103.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.17SOS 11.5K
$45.56Rp 803.2K
-55.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.82SOS 16.9K
$36.38Rp 641.4K
-18.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$14.91SOS 8,471
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-81.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$88.5SOS 50.3K
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-92.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$59.0SOS 33.5K
$701Rp 12.4M
-91.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356SOS 202.4K
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-89.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177SOS 100.6K
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-89.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$397SOS 225.2K
$170Rp 3.0M
133.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Garowe: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $88.5 in Garowe and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Garowe pays 134% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Garowe vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $15.00 vs $293 per month, with Garowe cheaper across the board.
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
Garowe vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Garowe?
Garowe is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Garowe or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 134% higher in Garowe, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Garowe and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $88.5 in Garowe versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $34.59 in Garowe versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Garowe or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Garowe – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Garowe or in Ubud, Bali?
At $524 in Garowe versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Garowe but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Garowe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Garowe or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Garowe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Garowe or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Garowe 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Garowe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 166% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.