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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $129 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $192 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $254 in Gulu.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 1014% more expensive than Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Gulu is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$1.36 UGX 5,041

162.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$12.60 UGX 46.7K

-59.76%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.85 UGX 10.6K

-0.70%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.29 UGX 1,076

362.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.14 UGX 523

392.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$0.80 UGX 2,962

273.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.71 UGX 10.1K

42.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$1.13 UGX 4,180

-74.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$32.93 UGX 122.1K

-75.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.36 UGX 5,056

-38.24%

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

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

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 Gulu: April 26, 2026

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 Gulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1014% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,158 in Ubud, Bali and $194 in Gulu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 303% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $129 in Gulu – a 1014% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $129 in Gulu versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Gulu 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.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Gulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1014% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.