Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bulawayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Bulawayo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $759 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,217 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,674 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 80% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Bulawayo is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$4.57 ZWL 122

-24.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$30.27 ZWL 811

19.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$4.94 ZWL 132

15.59%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$2.08 ZWL 55.7

28.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.51 ZWL 13.79

243.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.37 ZWL 9.90

135.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$1.53 ZWL 40.95

92.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$1.98 ZWL 53.0

128.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.68 ZWL 45.12

-3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.01 ZWL 27.15

130.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.59 ZWL 42.67

-30.19%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.81 ZWL 48.61

21.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$9.80 ZWL 263

80.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$4.03 ZWL 108

1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$4.57 ZWL 122

166.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$1.88 ZWL 50.5

97.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$1.54 ZWL 41.26

3.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$2.53 ZWL 67.9

-9.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$1.02 ZWL 27.32

91.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.26 ZWL 33.85

51.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.44 ZWL 38.59

61.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$1.14 ZWL 30.53

-11.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.79 ZWL 21.19

-30.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$1.54 ZWL 41.20

44.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$5.09 ZWL 136

353.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.35 ZWL 36.04

79.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$1.94 ZWL 51.8

54.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.77 ZWL 20.71

-64.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$29.67 ZWL 795

-69.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$3.04 ZWL 81.5

-84.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$2.03 ZWL 54.4

-78.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$5.07 ZWL 136

11.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.67 ZWL 44.82

-52.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$24.8K ZWL 665.2K

0.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$24.6K ZWL 659.7K

28.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$96.2 ZWL 2,577

-15.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$17.40 ZWL 466

-62.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$106 ZWL 2,839

-82.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$31.55 ZWL 845

80.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$20.38 ZWL 546

-8.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$9.97 ZWL 267

-54.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$481 Rp 8.5M

$229 ZWL 6,135

109.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$3,449 ZWL 92.4K

65.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$21.67 ZWL 581

110.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$11.81 ZWL 316

203.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$46.53 ZWL 1,247

72.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$58.4 ZWL 1,565

34.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$174 ZWL 4,649

542.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$108 ZWL 2,902

544.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$417 ZWL 11.2K

771.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$318 ZWL 8,510

446.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$2,109 ZWL 56.5K

32.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$2,066 ZWL 55.3K

10.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$297 ZWL 7,964

-43.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-8.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $174 in Bulawayo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Bulawayo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $179 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ubud, Bali vs Bulawayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,138 in Bulawayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $759 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 230% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $759, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bulawayo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.