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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $784 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,259 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,734 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 77% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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 64.5K

$4.39 ZWL 117

-18.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$29.52 ZWL 788

9.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$5.34 ZWL 143

-6.18%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$2.32 ZWL 61.9

21.55%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.48 ZWL 12.86

181.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.43 ZWL 11.47

69.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.80 ZWL 47.94

62.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$2.47 ZWL 65.9

59.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$1.56 ZWL 41.74

14.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$1.00 ZWL 26.77

145.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.78 ZWL 47.53

-35.39%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$1.75 ZWL 46.78

37.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$10.45 ZWL 279

37.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$3.84 ZWL 102

9.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$4.42 ZWL 118

172.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$1.46 ZWL 39.05

149.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.47 ZWL 39.26

6.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$2.23 ZWL 59.5

25.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$1.12 ZWL 29.86

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$1.15 ZWL 30.66

72.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$1.36 ZWL 36.24

67.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.98 ZWL 26.02

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.01 ZWL 26.88

-21.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$1.54 ZWL 40.96

107.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$5.07 ZWL 135

363.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.53 ZWL 40.94

89.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$2.19 ZWL 58.4

26.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$0.51 ZWL 13.66

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$30.34 ZWL 810

-72.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$3.08 ZWL 82.1

-85.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$2.23 ZWL 59.5

-79.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$4.96 ZWL 132

22.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.66 ZWL 44.35

-48.19%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$72.5 ZWL 1,933

9.05%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$18.00 ZWL 480

-77.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$135 ZWL 3,613

-82.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$24.96 ZWL 666

295.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$10.17 ZWL 271

-60.57%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$140 ZWL 3,729

112.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$21.40 ZWL 571

149.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$13.10 ZWL 349

190.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$69.7 ZWL 1,859

27.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$55.3 ZWL 1,476

38.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$183 ZWL 4,874

458.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$109 ZWL 2,900

525.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$473 ZWL 12.6K

632.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$420 ZWL 11.2K

398.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$2,089 ZWL 55.7K

30.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

$2,041 ZWL 54.5K

12.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$294 ZWL 7,853

-44.39%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $183 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 80% 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 $32.00 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 77%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,176 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $784 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 262% 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 $784, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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.