Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Kampala: $669 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kampala
🇺🇬 Uganda
$669
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kampala 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 Kampala and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $669 in Kampala versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Kampala $669
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,022 in Kampala versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Kampala $1,022
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,376 in Kampala versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Kampala $1,376
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Kampala costs roughly 51% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kampala is 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35 UGX 9,669
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
-29.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.24 UGX 99.7K
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
-31.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 UGX 30.1K
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
26.21%
Cappuccino
$2.48 UGX 10.2K
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-9.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 UGX 1,433
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-78.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 UGX 1,021
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-69.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 UGX 4,891
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-55.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 UGX 7,359
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-58.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 UGX 3,004
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
-51.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 UGX 3,709
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-60.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 UGX 5,514
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
13.56%
Eggs
$1.60 UGX 6,596
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-25.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.36 UGX 17.9K
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-75.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 UGX 18.8K
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
13.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.84 UGX 19.9K
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-60.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 UGX 8,718
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-40.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 UGX 5,238
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-19.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 UGX 5,197
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-43.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 UGX 4,766
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-39.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 UGX 5,103
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-34.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 UGX 4,846
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-48.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 UGX 3,197
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
-21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 UGX 2,145
$0.53 Rp 9,475
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 UGX 9,746
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
3.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 UGX 30.4K
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-67.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 UGX 4,416
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-54.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 UGX 7,485
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-37.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 UGX 2,954
$0.24 Rp 4,315
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.77 UGX 171.8K
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
373.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 UGX 1,912
$0.48 Rp 8,684
-4.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 UGX 1,182
$0.46 Rp 8,233
-36.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 UGX 12.7K
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
-43.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 UGX 5,746
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
59.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,189 UGX 29.6M
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
-70.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,180 UGX 29.5M
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-76.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.3 UGX 285.0K
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-16.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.61 UGX 47.8K
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
80.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.60 UGX 138.2K
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
80.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 UGX 222.9K
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-2.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 UGX 24.1K
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-67.64%
Cinema Ticket
$7.10 UGX 29.2K
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
62.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$248 UGX 1.0M
$493 Rp 8.9M
-49.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,313 UGX 34.2M
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
44.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.54 UGX 55.7K
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-70.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.51 UGX 51.5K
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-64.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$31.32 UGX 128.8K
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-60.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.57 UGX 175.1K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-45.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 UGX 2.0M
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-58.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$165 UGX 679.4K
$676 Rp 12.2M
-75.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 UGX 4.2M
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-70.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 UGX 1.2M
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-82.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,217 UGX 5.0M
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-56.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$948 UGX 3.9M
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-57.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 UGX 709.9K
$165 Rp 3.0M
4.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.75
13.78
50.58%

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

Last update for Kampala: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kampala
$165
Ubud, Bali
$676 309% $510
Groceries & Markets
Kampala
$147
Ubud, Bali
$290 97.7% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
$115
Ubud, Bali
$108 5.7% $6.5
Eating Out
Kampala
$82
Ubud, Bali
$109 31.9% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
$68
Ubud, Bali
$65 5.6% $3.8
Getting Around
Kampala
$47
Ubud, Bali
$13 73% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
$45
Ubud, Bali
$108 139% $63

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Kampala and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kampala pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Kampala vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $290 per month, with Kampala cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇬 Kampala
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
23:56 11:56 PM
04:56 4:56 AM
5 h ahead of Kampala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,516,210 Capital
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to UGX – Ugandan Shilling Converter

Ugandan Shilling exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4,113 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.43 USD). 1 EUR = 4,624 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.16 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kampala Ubud, Bali 9,210 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kampala
  • 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
Kampala vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Kampala?
Kampala is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kampala or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Kampala, 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 Kampala and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Kampala versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Kampala and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 98% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Kampala or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Kampala – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kampala or in Ubud, Bali?
At $669 in Kampala versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kampala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kampala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kampala or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Kampala 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, Kampala or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Kampala 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 Kampala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kampala vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?