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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $787 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,255 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,724 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 83% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Bulawayo is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$4.56 ZWL 115

-21.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$30.25 ZWL 765

7.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$5.44 ZWL 138

-6.80%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.35 ZWL 59.4

20.43%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.52 ZWL 13.24

157.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.41 ZWL 10.36

68.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.78 ZWL 45.03

67.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.44 ZWL 61.8

57.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.57 ZWL 39.74

10.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.02 ZWL 25.72

149.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.79 ZWL 45.40

-33.52%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.76 ZWL 44.44

38.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$10.31 ZWL 261

42.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$3.93 ZWL 99.5

6.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$4.29 ZWL 108

178.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.53 ZWL 38.63

141.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.49 ZWL 37.63

8.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.26 ZWL 57.1

19.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.07 ZWL 27.00

117.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.14 ZWL 28.96

67.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.33 ZWL 33.72

64.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.98 ZWL 24.90

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$1.01 ZWL 25.53

-28.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$1.51 ZWL 38.23

107.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$5.11 ZWL 129

359.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.52 ZWL 38.51

80.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$2.21 ZWL 55.9

30.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.48 ZWL 12.08

-39.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$30.44 ZWL 770

-73.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$2.98 ZWL 75.3

-84.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$2.18 ZWL 55.2

-80.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$4.99 ZWL 126

23.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.68 ZWL 42.46

-50.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$70.0 ZWL 1,772

12.00%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$18.64 ZWL 472

-78.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$132 ZWL 3,333

-81.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$25.33 ZWL 641

281.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$9.98 ZWL 252

-59.52%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$143 ZWL 3,608

112.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$22.01 ZWL 557

144.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$13.42 ZWL 339

183.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$68.0 ZWL 1,721

27.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$55.9 ZWL 1,413

41.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$181 ZWL 4,587

458.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$112 ZWL 2,822

504.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$468 ZWL 11.8K

623.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$409 ZWL 10.3K

413.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$2,058 ZWL 52.1K

45.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$2,038 ZWL 51.6K

14.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$302 ZWL 7,635

-42.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $181 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 74% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 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 83%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,180 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $787 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 273% 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 $787, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.