Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Garowe

For one person, living is cheaper in Garowe: $515 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Garowe
🇸🇴 Somalia
$515
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Garowe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $515 in Garowe.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Garowe $515

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $708 in Garowe.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Garowe $708

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $902 in Garowe.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Garowe $902

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 163% more expensive than in Garowe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Garowe is 62% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$9.17 SOS 5,206
280.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$2.96 SOS 1,680
-11.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$1.51 SOS 860
13.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.21 SOS 121
285.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$32.79 SOS 18.6K
-91.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-
-
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$1.32 SOS 748
-59.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.29 SOS 164
-20.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$1.53 SOS 869
-69.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$4.96 SOS 2,819
10.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$121 SOS 68.7K
-33.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$9.88 SOS 5,614
-33.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$49.84 SOS 28.3K
-62.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$19.93 SOS 11.3K
171.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$35.27 SOS 20.0K
1296.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$20.21 SOS 11.5K
125.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$30.48 SOS 17.3K
14.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$15.15 SOS 8,604
413.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$88.6 SOS 50.3K
1176.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$59.9 SOS 34.0K
1023.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$345 SOS 196.1K
946.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$181 SOS 102.7K
841.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Garowe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$399 SOS 226.8K
-58.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Garowe: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Garowe
–
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Garowe
–
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Garowe
–
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Garowe
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Garowe
–
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Garowe
–
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Garowe
–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $88.6 in Garowe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Garowe pays 140% 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 $9.00 in Garowe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $16.00 per month, with Garowe cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇸🇴 Garowe
🕒 Local time
20:42 8:42 PM
15:42 3:42 PM
5 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
57,300
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SOS, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Somali Shilling exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 568 SOS (1,000 SOS = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 639 SOS (1,000 SOS = 1.57 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Garowe 7,630 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Garowe

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 Garowe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garowe cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Garowe is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 163% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Garowe?
On paper, salaries run 140% lower in Garowe. 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 Garowe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $88.6 in Garowe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $35.27 in Garowe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Garowe?
Dining out is cheaper in Garowe – a meal for two runs $9.00 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 Garowe?
At $515 in Garowe versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Garowe but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Garowe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Garowe more family-friendly?
For families, Garowe 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 Garowe?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Garowe 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 Garowe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?