🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $518 in Garowe versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $758 in Garowe versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $998 in Garowe versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Garowe costs roughly 63% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Garowe is 61% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94SOS 1,104
$3.56Rp 63.9K
-45.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.91SOS 5,061
$32.73Rp 586.8K
-72.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.07SOS 1,746
$4.95Rp 88.7K
-37.98%
Cappuccino
$2.18SOS 1,240
$2.71Rp 48.6K
-19.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47SOS 836
$1.34Rp 24.1K
9.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22SOS 123
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-68.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$14.23SOS 8,083
$2.92Rp 52.3K
387.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.96Rp 70.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02SOS 580
$1.81Rp 32.4K
-43.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41SOS 234
$2.52Rp 45.1K
-83.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86SOS 490
$1.16Rp 20.8K
-25.86%
Eggs
$2.33SOS 1,326
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-5.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$14.71Rp 263.7K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98SOS 1,694
$4.32Rp 77.4K
-31.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.90SOS 2,215
$12.14Rp 217.5K
-67.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95SOS 1,105
$3.84Rp 68.8K
-49.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53SOS 870
$1.56Rp 27.9K
-1.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22SOS 695
$2.83Rp 50.8K
-56.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.89SOS 505
$2.33Rp 41.7K
-61.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67SOS 378
$1.91Rp 34.3K
-64.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71SOS 406
$2.20Rp 39.5K
-67.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83SOS 473
$1.01Rp 18.2K
-17.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92SOS 522
$0.78Rp 13.9K
17.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.98SOS 559
$3.32Rp 59.4K
-70.48%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.74Rp 425.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.79Rp 50.0K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86Rp 51.3K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31SOS 177
$0.27Rp 4,819
14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 143.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47SOS 836
$0.46Rp 8,181
219.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 8,068
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.97SOS 2,822
$6.10Rp 109.3K
-18.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1KRp 468.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1KRp 575.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119SOS 67.9K
$79.9Rp 1.4M
49.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.99SOS 5,674
$4.06Rp 72.9K
146.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.08SOS 27.9K
$23.52Rp 421.6K
108.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.94SOS 11.3K
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-79.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 118.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15Rp 74.3K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.75SOS 19.7K
$304Rp 5.4M
-88.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,613Rp 118.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.22SOS 11.5K
$55.5Rp 995.6K
-63.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.47SOS 17.3K
$38.31Rp 686.7K
-20.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$15.16SOS 8,611
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-82.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$90.6SOS 51.5K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-91.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$61.0SOS 34.7K
$675Rp 12.1M
-90.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$352SOS 199.7K
$3,442Rp 61.7M
-89.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180SOS 102.5K
$2,039Rp 36.6M
-91.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841Rp 50.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$398SOS 226.2K
$165Rp 3.0M
141.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Garowe: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $90.6 in Garowe and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Garowe pays 141% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $302 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 Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 174% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Garowe or Ubud, Bali?
Garowe pays 141% more on average, 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: $90.6 in Garowe versus $1,006 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 $34.75 in Garowe versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Garowe – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Garowe or Ubud, Bali?
At $518 in Garowe versus $1,419 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 174% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.