🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $919 in Ruse versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Ruse versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,982 in Ruse versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Ruse costs roughly 35% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ruse is 31% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66BGN 17.73
$3.56Rp 64.3K
199.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.69BGN 59.4
$32.73Rp 590.3K
9.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94BGN 13.21
$4.95Rp 89.2K
60.40%
Cappuccino
$1.68BGN 2.79
$2.71Rp 48.9K
-38.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50BGN 2.49
$1.34Rp 24.2K
11.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84BGN 1.40
$0.70Rp 12.6K
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81BGN 3.00
$2.92Rp 52.7K
-38.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88BGN 4.80
$3.96Rp 71.4K
-27.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73BGN 2.88
$1.81Rp 32.6K
-4.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98BGN 1.63
$2.52Rp 45.4K
-61.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07BGN 3.44
$1.16Rp 20.9K
78.45%
Eggs
$2.73BGN 4.54
$2.46Rp 44.4K
10.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.46BGN 15.73
$14.71Rp 265.3K
-35.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.15BGN 13.56
$4.32Rp 77.9K
88.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98BGN 21.59
$12.14Rp 218.9K
6.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45BGN 2.41
$3.84Rp 69.3K
-62.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89BGN 3.15
$1.56Rp 28.1K
21.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.21
$2.83Rp 51.1K
-31.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07BGN 3.45
$2.33Rp 41.9K
-11.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15BGN 1.92
$1.91Rp 34.5K
-39.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05BGN 1.75
$2.20Rp 39.7K
-52.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$1.01Rp 18.3K
15.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68BGN 1.13
$0.78Rp 14.0K
-12.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60BGN 5.98
$3.32Rp 59.8K
8.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98BGN 9.95
$23.74Rp 428.0K
-74.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04BGN 1.73
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-62.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$2.86Rp 51.6K
-59.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92BGN 1.53
$0.27Rp 4,848
240.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.14BGN 26.86
$8.03Rp 144.8K
101.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44BGN 2.40
$0.46Rp 8,230
213.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65BGN 1.07
$0.45Rp 8,116
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.24BGN 17.03
$6.10Rp 109.9K
67.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49BGN 2.47
$0.79Rp 14.3K
88.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KBGN 53.4K
$26.1KRp 471.6M
22.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KBGN 47.6K
$32.1KRp 579.2M
-10.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.9BGN 166
$79.9Rp 1.4M
24.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.56BGN 29.22
$4.06Rp 73.3K
332.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.00BGN 24.95
$23.52Rp 424.1K
-36.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.07BGN 53.4
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-67.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.08BGN 15.11
$6.63Rp 119.6K
36.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99BGN 9.96
$4.15Rp 74.8K
44.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$637BGN 1,060
$304Rp 5.5M
109.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,043BGN 15.0K
$6,613Rp 119.3M
36.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0BGN 89.8
$55.5Rp 1.0M
-2.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.70BGN 49.41
$38.31Rp 690.9K
-22.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7BGN 123
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8BGN 144
$77.9Rp 1.4M
11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290BGN 482
$1,006Rp 18.1M
-71.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238BGN 396
$675Rp 12.2M
-64.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$531BGN 883
$3,442Rp 62.1M
-84.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$414BGN 688
$2,039Rp 36.8M
-79.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,651BGN 2,746
$2,841Rp 51.2M
-41.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186BGN 1,973
$2,264Rp 40.8M
-47.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$977BGN 1,626
$165Rp 3.0M
491.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.1
13.28
-76.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ruse: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in Ruse and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ruse pays 491% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ruse vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $302, with Ruse 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
Ruse vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ruse or Ubud, Bali?
Ruse wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ruse the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ruse or Ubud, Bali?
Ruse pays 491% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ruse vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $290 in Ruse versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ruse vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ruse runs roughly 101% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ruse and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $637 in Ruse versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ruse or Ubud, Bali?
At $919 in Ruse versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ruse but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ruse the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ruse or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ruse delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $919 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ruse hard to pass up.
How safe is Ruse compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ruse 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ruse gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.