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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $132 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $190 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $248 in Gulu.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 952% more expensive than in Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Gulu is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$1.38 UGX 5,166

158.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$12.61 UGX 47.2K

-60.27%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

4.06%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.27 UGX 1,001

400.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.13 UGX 502

461.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$0.80 UGX 2,985

266.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$2.84 UGX 10.6K

38.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$1.08 UGX 4,062

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$33.07 UGX 123.8K

-74.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.43 UGX 5,367

-39.86%

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

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Gulu: July 28, 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 952% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $198 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 295% 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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $132 in Gulu – a 952% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Gulu versus $1,392 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 952% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.