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 $419 per month in Gisenyi vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $656 per month in Gisenyi vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $893 per month in Gisenyi vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Gisenyi is about 71% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gisenyi sits 69% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 RWF 5,969
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.84 RWF 21.7K
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
-54.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.90 RWF 8,631
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
16.37%
Cappuccino
$2.24 RWF 3,278
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-20.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 RWF 1,260
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-35.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 RWF 759
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-24.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 RWF 1,483
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
-66.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 RWF 2,970
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-47.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.66 RWF 971
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-62.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 RWF 1,561
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-57.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 RWF 1,811
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
4.20%
Eggs
$1.64 RWF 2,400
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-32.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.17 RWF 6,111
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-71.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.43 RWF 6,480
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
5.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.67 RWF 5,371
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-69.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.50 RWF 3,655
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-32.25%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 RWF 1,455
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
-38.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 RWF 2,091
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-46.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 RWF 1,671
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-51.07%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 RWF 714
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-74.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 RWF 1,123
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-64.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 RWF 460
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-70.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 RWF 1,163
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70 RWF 2,484
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
-45.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 RWF 14.8K
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-56.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 RWF 1,321
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-67.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 RWF 2,519
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
-40.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.10 RWF 149
$0.29 Rp 5,029
-65.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 RWF 4,675
$0.45 Rp 7,863
608.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 RWF 2,044
$0.42 Rp 7,305
233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 RWF 5,689
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
-36.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 RWF 1,668
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K RWF 39.2M
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
1.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K RWF 44.4M
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-6.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.21 RWF 69.1K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-39.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.08 RWF 4,511
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
-22.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.01 RWF 26.4K
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
-26.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.51 RWF 5,135
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
-13.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 RWF 227.8K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-48.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,205 RWF 7.6M
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-20.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.33 RWF 25.4K
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-67.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.53 RWF 28.6K
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
-48.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.22 RWF 35.5K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-72.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.42 RWF 46.0K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-60.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$99.1 RWF 145.0K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-90.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$50.5 RWF 73.9K
$674 Rp 11.7M
-92.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$297 RWF 435.2K
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-91.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 RWF 172.9K
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-94.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $99.1 in Gisenyi versus $1,012 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 $33.00 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 243% 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $629 per month in Gisenyi and $2,158 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Gisenyi and $33.00 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 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 Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gisenyi, where all-in costs run around $419, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $419 versus $1,438 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 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.

Gisenyi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities