🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,007 in Ruse versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,525 in Ruse versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,044 in Ruse versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ruse costs roughly 28% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ruse is 27% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.23BGN 15.35
$3.37Rp 59.5K
173.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.38BGN 58.9
$38.59Rp 680.3K
-8.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.85BGN 16.38
$5.52Rp 97.3K
78.44%
Cappuccino
$1.75BGN 2.91
$2.64Rp 46.6K
-33.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55BGN 2.57
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-7.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82BGN 1.37
$0.77Rp 13.6K
6.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79BGN 2.98
$2.63Rp 46.4K
-31.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03BGN 5.04
$4.28Rp 75.5K
-29.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83BGN 3.04
$1.55Rp 27.3K
18.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98BGN 1.63
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-55.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35BGN 3.91
$1.13Rp 19.8K
107.96%
Eggs
$2.72BGN 4.52
$2.09Rp 36.8K
30.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64BGN 16.04
$17.39Rp 306.6K
-44.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10BGN 13.48
$3.87Rp 68.2K
109.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.93BGN 24.84
$12.55Rp 221.2K
18.96%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46BGN 2.43
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-59.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.22
$1.56Rp 27.5K
23.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99BGN 3.31
$2.35Rp 41.5K
-15.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07BGN 3.44
$2.06Rp 36.2K
0.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12BGN 1.86
$1.90Rp 33.5K
-41.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08BGN 1.79
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-53.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25BGN 2.08
$1.03Rp 18.2K
21.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67BGN 1.12
$0.55Rp 9,779
21.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71BGN 6.17
$2.25Rp 39.7K
64.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.61BGN 11.00
$23.81Rp 419.7K
-72.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23BGN 2.05
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-46.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16BGN 1.93
$2.80Rp 49.4K
-58.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86BGN 1.43
$0.27Rp 4,802
218.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.22BGN 26.99
$8.66Rp 152.7K
87.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34BGN 2.24
$0.48Rp 8,489
179.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64BGN 1.06
$0.45Rp 7,863
42.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.31BGN 17.16
$5.72Rp 100.8K
80.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61BGN 2.67
$0.76Rp 13.4K
111.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7KBGN 51.1K
$24.5KRp 431.6M
25.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KBGN 38.6K
$32.1KRp 566.3M
-27.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105BGN 175
$83.6Rp 1.5M
25.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.43BGN 30.66
$6.46Rp 113.8K
185.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.53BGN 22.51
$18.99Rp 334.8K
-28.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.42BGN 53.9
$56.0Rp 986.8K
-42.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.81BGN 14.66
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-52.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.83BGN 9.70
$4.28Rp 75.5K
36.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$543BGN 904
$487Rp 8.6M
11.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,772BGN 9,602
$5,856Rp 103.2M
-1.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8BGN 89.5
$45.56Rp 803.2K
18.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.62BGN 49.27
$36.38Rp 641.4K
-18.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.4BGN 122
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-10.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1BGN 147
$80.4Rp 1.4M
9.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366BGN 609
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-67.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310BGN 516
$701Rp 12.4M
-55.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$539BGN 896
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-84.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429BGN 714
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-75.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,701BGN 2,830
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-39.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,258BGN 2,093
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-45.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ruse
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,010BGN 1,679
$170Rp 3.0M
494.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.1
13.78
-77.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ruse: September 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in Ruse and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ruse pays 495% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Ruse vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $293 per month, with Ruse cheaper across the board.
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 39% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 495% higher in Ruse, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $366 in Ruse versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ruse compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ruse runs roughly 87% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $543 in Ruse versus $487 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,007 in Ruse versus $1,396 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 $1,007 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 39% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.