Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Mbarara: $488 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mbarara, Uganda
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Mbarara
🇺🇬 Uganda
$488
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $488 per month in Mbarara vs $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Mbarara $488
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

A couple spends around $776 per month in Mbarara vs $2,305 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Mbarara $776
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

A family of three spends $1,063 per month in Mbarara vs $3,261 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Mbarara $1,063
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Mbarara is about 64% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35 UGX 10.3K
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
-29.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.42 UGX 107.0K
$35.64 Rp 648.1K
-31.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 UGX 31.0K
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
27.85%
Cappuccino
$2.43 UGX 10.6K
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-10.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 UGX 1,502
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 UGX 1,190
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-64.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 UGX 5,332
$2.65 Rp 48.3K
-53.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 UGX 8,018
$4.38 Rp 79.7K
-58.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.50 UGX 2,177
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
-66.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 UGX 4,083
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
-59.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 UGX 5,130
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-1.68%
Eggs
$1.53 UGX 6,682
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
-25.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.23 UGX 18.5K
$17.70 Rp 321.9K
-76.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 UGX 19.7K
$3.96 Rp 72.1K
13.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.46 UGX 15.1K
$12.19 Rp 221.7K
-71.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 UGX 8,780
$3.66 Rp 66.5K
-45.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 UGX 5,434
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
-18.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 UGX 5,706
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
-41.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 UGX 5,199
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
-39.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 UGX 5,389
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
-33.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 UGX 5,125
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
-51.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 UGX 3,158
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
-27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 UGX 2,218
$0.51 Rp 9,336
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 UGX 10.6K
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
9.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 UGX 32.4K
$22.24 Rp 404.4K
-66.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 UGX 4,730
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
-52.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 UGX 7,949
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
-39.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 UGX 3,056
$0.25 Rp 4,564
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$7.82 Rp 142.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 UGX 2,035
$0.44 Rp 7,992
4.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 UGX 1,266
$0.43 Rp 7,821
-32.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 UGX 13.3K
$5.41 Rp 98.4K
-43.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 UGX 5,981
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
67.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,154 UGX 31.3M
$23.8K Rp 433.5M
-69.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,202 UGX 31.5M
$31.7K Rp 577.3M
-77.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 UGX 302.9K
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-12.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.20 UGX 49.1K
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
73.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.55 UGX 146.9K
$18.58 Rp 337.8K
80.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.82 UGX 78.0K
$49.48 Rp 899.8K
-63.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.65 Rp 320.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.15 UGX 31.3K
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
67.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$247 UGX 1.1M
$491 Rp 8.9M
-49.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,140 UGX 35.7M
$5,674 Rp 103.2M
43.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.66 UGX 59.8K
$44.64 Rp 811.7K
-69.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.69 UGX 55.6K
$34.95 Rp 635.6K
-63.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$31.67 UGX 138.7K
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
-60.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.04 UGX 184.2K
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
-47.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$83.7 UGX 366.4K
$1,125 Rp 20.5M
-92.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.0 UGX 319.5K
$671 Rp 12.2M
-89.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$231 UGX 1.0M
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-93.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 UGX 749.8K
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-90.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,732 Rp 49.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbarara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
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 Mbarara: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mbarara
$138
Ubud, Bali
$288 109% $150
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbarara
$114
Ubud, Bali
$104 8.6% $9.8
Eating Out
Mbarara
$81
Ubud, Bali
$108 32.3% $26
Accommodation & Living
Mbarara
$73
Ubud, Bali
$672 821% $599
Clothing & Footwear
Mbarara
$45
Ubud, Bali
$108 139% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Mbarara
$32
Ubud, Bali
$58 80.7% $26
Getting Around
Mbarara
$4.7 *
Ubud, Bali
$11 143% $6.7

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $84 in Mbarara versus $1,125 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 $24 in Mbarara versus $36 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $288 – making Mbarara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇬 Mbarara
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
07:26 7:26 AM
12:26 12:26 PM
5 h ahead of Mbarara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
195,013
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to UGX – Ugandan Shilling Converter

Ugandan Shilling exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 4,380 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.28 USD). 1 EUR = 4,876 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.05 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18,183 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,242 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mbarara Ubud, Bali 9,400 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mbarara
  • 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
Mbarara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mbarara cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 176%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $732 per month in Mbarara and $2,023 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 Mbarara, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $84 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Is eating out cheaper in Mbarara or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24 in Mbarara and $36 in Ubud, Bali. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mbarara and in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 109% more in Ubud, Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mbarara or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mbarara, where all-in costs run around $488, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Mbarara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mbarara or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mbarara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Mbarara vs other spots: cost of living compared

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