Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Gaborone

For one person, living is cheaper in Gaborone: $866 a month against $1,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Gaborone
🇧🇼 Botswana
$866
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Gaborone

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Gaborone actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $866 in Gaborone.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,348
  • Gaborone $866

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,301 in Gaborone.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,312
  • Gaborone $1,301

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,276 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,737 in Gaborone.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,276
  • Gaborone $1,737

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 56% more expensive than in Gaborone, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, Gaborone is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
$11.04 P 148
-69.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
$29.11 P 390
21.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
$5.87 P 78.6
-1.87%
Cappuccino
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$2.37 P 31.70
10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
$0.71 P 9.45
145.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$0.44 P 5.87
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$1.98 P 26.47
36.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
$2.56 P 34.24
76.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
$1.47 P 19.66
4.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
$0.87 P 11.59
152.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$1.98 P 26.48
-38.38%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$2.54 P 34.06
-15.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
$6.45 P 86.4
174.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
$4.77 P 63.9
-19.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
$4.88 P 65.4
146.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
$1.64 P 22.01
120.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
$1.40 P 18.73
7.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
$1.95 P 26.07
18.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
$1.65 P 22.13
21.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.31 P 17.53
38.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
$1.15 P 15.40
107.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$1.28 P 17.20
-22.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,373
$0.93 P 12.50
-44.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
$3.71 P 49.75
-41.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
$4.39 P 58.8
423.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
$1.43 P 19.23
67.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
$1.74 P 23.26
72.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,255
$0.67 P 9.00
-64.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
$30.16 P 404
-76.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,876
$0.64 P 8.60
-31.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,582
$2.61 P 35.04
-83.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
$2.86 P 38.37
90.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$1.32 P 17.74
-36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
$19.6K P 263.0K
23.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
$19.9K P 266.4K
60.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$60.2 P 807
34.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
$19.85 P 266
-66.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
$42.94 P 575
-57.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
$34.16 P 458
61.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
$16.03 P 215
15.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
$5.98 P 80.1
-29.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 Rp 8.7M
$130 P 1,740
274.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
$2,526 P 33.8K
124.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
$48.16 P 645
-6.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
$16.58 P 222
108.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
$74.0 P 991
7.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
$78.3 P 1,049
-0.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
$363 P 4,860
210.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 12.1M
$219 P 2,941
207.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
$542 P 7,263
567.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
$354 P 4,741
390.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
$2,021 P 27.1K
39.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
$1,252 P 16.8K
84.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Gaborone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$450 P 6,033
-63.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.33
21.62%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Last update for Gaborone: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$674
Gaborone
$219 67.4% $455
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Gaborone
$174 40.1% $116
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Gaborone
$154 42.4% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Gaborone
$98 8.3% $8.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$106
Gaborone
$123 16.4% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$64
Gaborone
$46 27.5% $18
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Gaborone
$47 344% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,127 in Ubud, Bali and $363 in Gaborone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gaborone pays 172% 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 Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Gaborone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $174 per month, with Gaborone cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇧🇼 Gaborone
🕒 Local time
21:05 9:05 PM
15:05 3:05 PM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
231,626 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BWP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

Botswana Pula exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 13.4 BWP (100 BWP = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 15.02 BWP (100 BWP = 6.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Gaborone 9,550 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Gaborone

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Gaborone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gaborone cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Gaborone is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Gaborone?
On paper, salaries run 172% lower in Gaborone. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Gaborone?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,127 in Ubud, Bali versus $363 in Gaborone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Gaborone?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Gaborone?
Dining out is cheaper in Gaborone – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Gaborone?
At $866 in Gaborone versus $1,348 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gaborone but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Gaborone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Gaborone more family-friendly?
For families, Gaborone is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Gaborone?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Gaborone 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gaborone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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