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: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $123 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $182 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $242 in Gulu.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 1011% more expensive than in Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Gulu is 91% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$1.36 UGX 5,310

152.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$12.06 UGX 47.1K

-52.65%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$2.60 UGX 10.2K

2.69%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.25 UGX 967

600.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.13 UGX 527

569.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$0.77 UGX 3,029

283.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$2.64 UGX 10.3K

71.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$1.07 UGX 4,200

-74.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$32.29 UGX 126.2K

-72.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.37 UGX 5,369

-41.61%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Gulu: September 14, 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1011% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,052 in Ubud, Bali and $185 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 260% 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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $123 in Gulu – a 1011% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $123 in Gulu versus $1,368 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 1011% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.