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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $414 per month in Gisenyi vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $651 per month in Gisenyi vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $888 per month in Gisenyi vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Gisenyi is about 70% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gisenyi sits 69% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 RWF 6,133
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
17.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.04 RWF 22.0K
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
-53.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 RWF 8,580
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
16.97%
Cappuccino
$2.24 RWF 3,277
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
-20.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 RWF 1,253
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-36.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 RWF 753
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
-30.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 RWF 1,497
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-65.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 RWF 2,942
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
-48.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.66 RWF 963
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-62.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 RWF 1,567
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-56.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 RWF 1,824
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
8.70%
Eggs
$1.68 RWF 2,462
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-30.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.16 RWF 6,086
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-70.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.26 RWF 6,233
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
1.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.73 RWF 5,464
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-69.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 RWF 3,465
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-34.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 RWF 1,476
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-35.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 RWF 2,152
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-47.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 RWF 1,662
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-49.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 RWF 710
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-75.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 RWF 1,211
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-63.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 RWF 454
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
-70.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 RWF 1,170
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
1.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 RWF 2,479
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
-47.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.03 RWF 14.7K
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-57.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 RWF 1,425
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-66.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 RWF 2,599
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
-35.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.09 RWF 136
$0.27 Rp 4,813
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 RWF 4,602
$0.45 Rp 8,167
597.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 RWF 2,052
$0.46 Rp 8,298
204.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.75 RWF 5,488
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
-38.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 RWF 1,713
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
36.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K RWF 39.4M
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K RWF 43.9M
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-7.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.73 RWF 66.9K
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-42.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.06 RWF 4,483
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
-25.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.97 RWF 26.3K
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
-24.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 RWF 5,009
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
-14.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 RWF 223.4K
$297 Rp 5.4M
-48.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,123 RWF 7.5M
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
-22.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.30 RWF 25.3K
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
-67.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.10 RWF 28.0K
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
-49.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.56 RWF 35.9K
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-72.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.90 RWF 45.2K
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
-59.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$101 RWF 148.2K
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-90.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$50.6 RWF 74.1K
$680 Rp 12.3M
-92.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 RWF 438.1K
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-91.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 RWF 172.8K
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-94.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.2
13.28
21.99%

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

Last update for Gisenyi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Gisenyi versus $1,020 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Gisenyi versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 vs $298 – making Gisenyi 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
Gisenyi vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gisenyi or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 237% more than Gisenyi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gisenyi and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $620 per month in Gisenyi and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gisenyi or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gisenyi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Gisenyi and in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Gisenyi and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gisenyi or in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 104% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gisenyi or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gisenyi, where all-in costs run around $414, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Gisenyi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gisenyi or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gisenyi costs $414 versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gisenyi compared to 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.
Should I move to Gisenyi or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Gisenyi. 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.

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