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 $418 per month in Gisenyi vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Gisenyi vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $888 per month in Gisenyi vs $3,694 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 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 RWF 6,004
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
15.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.89 RWF 21.7K
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-54.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.14 RWF 8,964
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
26.34%
Cappuccino
$2.21 RWF 3,229
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
-19.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 RWF 1,199
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-37.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 RWF 752
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 RWF 1,558
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-63.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 RWF 2,950
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-46.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.67 RWF 985
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-60.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 RWF 1,487
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-58.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 RWF 1,864
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
6.67%
Eggs
$1.71 RWF 2,499
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-29.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.99 RWF 5,829
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-72.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.45 RWF 6,492
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
3.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.69 RWF 5,379
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-69.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 RWF 3,630
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-32.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 RWF 1,472
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-34.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 RWF 2,177
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-46.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 RWF 1,667
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-51.07%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 RWF 746
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-74.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 RWF 1,136
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-66.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 RWF 423
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-72.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 RWF 1,181
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
10.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 RWF 2,466
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-48.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.34 RWF 15.1K
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-54.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 RWF 1,340
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-67.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 RWF 2,594
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-35.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 RWF 161
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-62.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 RWF 4,633
$0.45 Rp 8,047
604.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 RWF 2,101
$0.45 Rp 8,094
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 RWF 5,553
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-39.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 RWF 1,659
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
34.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K RWF 38.4M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K RWF 44.5M
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-3.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.63 RWF 68.1K
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-42.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.03 RWF 4,429
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
-25.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.14 RWF 26.5K
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
-25.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.39 RWF 4,944
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
-16.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 RWF 222.0K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-49.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,187 RWF 7.6M
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-21.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.33 RWF 25.3K
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-68.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.29 RWF 28.2K
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-50.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.23 RWF 35.4K
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-71.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.59 RWF 46.1K
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-58.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$99.7 RWF 145.4K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-89.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$50.5 RWF 73.8K
$658 Rp 11.8M
-92.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$304 RWF 444.3K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-90.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 RWF 175.7K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-94.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gisenyi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $99.7 in Gisenyi versus $986 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: $147 vs $297 – 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 236% 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 $627 per month in Gisenyi and $2,106 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 102% 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 $418, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $418 versus $1,404 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.

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