🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Harare versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,706 in Harare versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,385 in Harare versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Harare costs roughly 26% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Harare is 25% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.95ZWL 266
$3.37Rp 59.7K
195.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.21ZWL 1,074
$38.59Rp 682.4K
4.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.92ZWL 158
$5.52Rp 97.6K
7.25%
Cappuccino
$3.08ZWL 82.2
$2.64Rp 46.8K
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93ZWL 24.85
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-44.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49ZWL 12.98
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-36.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48ZWL 39.62
$2.63Rp 46.6K
-43.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05ZWL 54.7
$4.28Rp 75.7K
-52.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60ZWL 42.62
$1.55Rp 27.3K
3.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03ZWL 27.52
$2.22Rp 39.3K
-53.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64ZWL 43.76
$1.13Rp 19.9K
45.13%
Eggs
$1.87ZWL 49.85
$2.09Rp 36.9K
-10.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.97ZWL 320
$17.39Rp 307.6K
-31.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52ZWL 148
$3.87Rp 68.4K
42.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.50ZWL 174
$12.55Rp 221.9K
-48.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15ZWL 84.3
$3.62Rp 63.9K
-12.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60ZWL 42.75
$1.56Rp 27.6K
2.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02ZWL 53.9
$2.35Rp 41.6K
-14.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46ZWL 38.96
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-29.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73ZWL 46.35
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-8.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86ZWL 49.82
$2.34Rp 41.3K
-20.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17ZWL 31.16
$1.03Rp 18.2K
13.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00ZWL 26.59
$0.55Rp 9,809
81.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96ZWL 52.5
$2.25Rp 39.8K
-12.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.88ZWL 237
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-62.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37ZWL 36.54
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-40.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94ZWL 51.7
$2.80Rp 49.5K
-30.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03ZWL 27.39
$0.27Rp 4,816
281.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.3ZWL 1,611
$8.66Rp 153.2K
596.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08ZWL 109
$0.48Rp 8,515
750.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05ZWL 54.9
$0.45Rp 7,887
355.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.89ZWL 131
$5.72Rp 101.1K
-14.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79ZWL 47.90
$0.76Rp 13.4K
135.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KZWL 599.2K
$24.5KRp 433.0M
-8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KZWL 732.1K
$32.1KRp 568.0M
-14.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.5ZWL 1,456
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-34.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.79ZWL 582
$6.46Rp 114.2K
237.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5ZWL 1,803
$18.99Rp 335.9K
255.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.78ZWL 1,303
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-12.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.89ZWL 612
$18.62Rp 329.2K
22.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10ZWL 270
$4.28Rp 75.7K
135.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$471ZWL 12.6K
$487Rp 8.6M
-3.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,024ZWL 241.1K
$5,856Rp 103.6M
54.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.01ZWL 642
$45.56Rp 805.6K
-47.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.84ZWL 557
$36.38Rp 643.3K
-42.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.96ZWL 1,041
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-52.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.36ZWL 1,132
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-47.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$410ZWL 10.9K
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-63.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$320ZWL 8,559
$701Rp 12.4M
-54.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$823ZWL 22.0K
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-76.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$744ZWL 19.9K
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-57.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$932ZWL 24.9K
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-67.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$385ZWL 10.3K
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-83.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harare
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$430ZWL 11.5K
$170Rp 3.0M
153.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.69
13.78
-0.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Harare: September 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $410 in Harare and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harare pays 153% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Harare vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $293, with Harare cheaper for home cooking.
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
Harare vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Harare?
Harare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Harare or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 153% higher in Harare, 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 Harare and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $410 in Harare versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $471 in Harare versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Harare and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Harare or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,028 in Harare versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Harare but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Harare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Harare or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Harare is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Harare or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Harare and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Harare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.