Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living costs are similar in Gwangju and in Ubud, Bali: $1,341 and $1,349 a month, rent and utilities included.

Gwangju, South Korea
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Gwangju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,341
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gwangju and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gwangju and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,341 in Gwangju versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Gwangju $1,341
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,048 in Gwangju versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Gwangju $2,048
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,756 in Gwangju versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Gwangju $2,756
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Monthly costs are close between Gwangju and Ubud, Bali; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.02 ₩8,080
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
81.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.32 ₩46.1K
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
-3.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.82 ₩7,817
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
5.24%
Cappuccino
$3.17 ₩4,258
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
16.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₩2,141
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-6.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₩848
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-17.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 ₩3,197
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
-10.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₩6,170
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
4.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ₩2,312
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
15.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 ₩3,348
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
9.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 ₩3,075
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
92.44%
Eggs
$2.64 ₩3,541
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
29.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ₩11.8K
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
-50.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.82 ₩10.5K
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
97.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 ₩15.0K
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
-8.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 ₩6,934
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
40.98%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 ₩4,050
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
98.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 ₩5,000
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
66.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 ₩4,144
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
56.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.60 ₩4,835
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
94.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 ₩2,541
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
-21.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 ₩2,838
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
113.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₩1,725
$0.51 Rp 9,332
150.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₩4,515
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
51.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.19 ₩15.0K
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
-49.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₩2,031
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
-33.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₩3,100
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
-22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ₩1,351
$0.25 Rp 4,562
304.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.8 ₩92.4K
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
780.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 ₩4,102
$0.44 Rp 7,989
595.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₩854
$0.43 Rp 7,817
48.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ₩10.5K
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
44.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ₩1,617
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
46.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K ₩37.7M
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
17.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K ₩47.3M
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
10.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 ₩284.5K
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
167.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.13 ₩59.3K
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
584.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.64 ₩27.7K
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
11.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.4 ₩74.3K
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
11.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 ₩19.3K
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
-18.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.20 ₩15.0K
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
162.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ₩401.2K
$491 Rp 8.9M
-39.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K ₩23.5M
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
208.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.50 ₩43.6K
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
-27.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.36 ₩35.4K
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
-24.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.9 ₩85.8K
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
-20.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9 ₩120.7K
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
13.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 ₩682.6K
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-54.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 ₩496.4K
$671 Rp 12.2M
-44.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 ₩1.6M
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-67.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$744 ₩998.6K
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-56.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,980 ₩10.7M
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
192.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,343 ₩8.5M
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
177.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gwangju
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,834 ₩3.8M
$164 Rp 3.0M
1629.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.6
13.78
-73.88%

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

Last update for Gwangju: October 24, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gwangju
$370
Ubud, Bali
$672 81.6% $302
Groceries & Markets
Gwangju
$308
Ubud, Bali
$288 6.4% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gwangju
$277
Ubud, Bali
$104 62.4% $173
Eating Out
Gwangju
$134
Ubud, Bali
$108 19.4% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Gwangju
$96
Ubud, Bali
$108 12.3% $12
Getting Around
Gwangju
$79
Ubud, Bali
$11 85.6% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Gwangju
$78
Ubud, Bali
$58 25.4% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Gwangju and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwangju pays about 17 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $34 in Gwangju vs $36 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $288, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Gwangju
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
05:37 5:37 AM
04:37 4:37 AM
1 h behind Gwangju
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,467,996
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gwangju Ubud, Bali 5,010 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gwangju
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gwangju vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Gwangju or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Gwangju is about 17 times higher, 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 Gwangju and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Gwangju versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 89% less than in Gwangju. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do food prices compare in Gwangju and in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 enough for either Gwangju or Ubud, Bali?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Gwangju gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Gwangju or in Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Gwangju or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Gwangju and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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