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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $660 per month in Guilin vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,050 per month in Guilin vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,440 per month in Guilin vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Guilin is about 52% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Guilin sits 52% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.21 ¥14.78
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
-35.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.65 ¥98.1
$36.31 Rp 644.5K
-59.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.95 ¥19.77
$5.71 Rp 101.3K
-48.34%
Cappuccino
$2.10 ¥14.07
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
-21.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.85
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
-75.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.83 ¥5.59
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
-71.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥14.41
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
-52.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ¥9.70
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-10.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ¥8.38
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
-46.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 ¥4.26
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
-42.34%
Eggs
$1.76 ¥11.78
$2.20 Rp 39.1K
-20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.44 ¥90.0
$17.69 Rp 314.0K
-24.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.36 ¥22.47
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
-18.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ¥74.7
$12.18 Rp 216.1K
-8.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.87
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
-60.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ¥7.85
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
-26.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 ¥6.87
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
-54.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 ¥5.86
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
-54.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.03
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
-60.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.30
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
-59.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 ¥3.56
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
-47.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$0.55 Rp 9,795
-21.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77 ¥25.23
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
69.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 ¥81.1
$23.07 Rp 409.5K
-47.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥5.68
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
-64.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥10.96
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
-45.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.27 Rp 4,825
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.88 ¥126
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
110.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 ¥8.77
$0.48 Rp 8,586
172.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ¥2.08
$0.43 Rp 7,697
-27.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.76 ¥45.24
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
19.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ¥8.06
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ¥127.6K
$24.9K Rp 442.7M
-23.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥113.2K
$31.7K Rp 562.8M
-46.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.13 ¥162
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
-70.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02 ¥33.59
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
-22.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.01 ¥73.7
$18.77 Rp 333.1K
-41.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.11 ¥275
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-27.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.76 ¥92.2
$18.73 Rp 332.4K
-26.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 ¥33.95
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
11.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$383 ¥2,565
$481 Rp 8.5M
-20.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K ¥103.7K
$5,711 Rp 101.4M
171.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.87 ¥287
$45.52 Rp 807.9K
-5.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.44 ¥257
$35.88 Rp 636.9K
7.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥505
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-6.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ¥496
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-5.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 ¥1,943
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
-73.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 ¥1,207
$698 Rp 12.4M
-74.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ¥3,972
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-83.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 ¥2,451
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-78.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,377 ¥9,223
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-50.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,908 ¥12.8K
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
-16.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guilin
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 ¥3,223
$168 Rp 3.0M
186.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.38
13.78
-75.47%

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

Last update for Guilin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Guilin versus $1,115 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.

Salaries run about 186% higher in Guilin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Guilin versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $295 – making Guilin 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
Guilin vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Guilin?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $990 per month in Guilin and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guilin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Guilin or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Guilin and $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Guilin and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $660 in Guilin and $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Guilin or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guilin, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Guilin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Guilin or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guilin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Guilin or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Guilin. 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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