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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $562 per month in Arusha vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $905 per month in Arusha vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,248 per month in Arusha vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Arusha is about 60% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Arusha sits 59% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 TZS 9,091

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

2.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.10 TZS 73.9K

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

-27.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 TZS 24.0K

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

65.22%

Cappuccino

$1.78 TZS 4,680

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

-32.58%

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

$0.90 TZS 2,377

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

-46.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 TZS 800

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

-61.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,734

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

-60.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 TZS 7,348

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

-34.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 TZS 2,552

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

-37.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 TZS 1,706

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

-70.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 TZS 4,347

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

46.02%

Eggs

$1.67 TZS 4,387

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

-20.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 TZS 5,832

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

-38.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,900

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

-65.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 TZS 1,276

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-74.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,810

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

-54.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 TZS 2,242

$0.55 Rp 9,854

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 TZS 4,077

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

-31.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 TZS 2,442

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

-59.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 TZS 2,619

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

-64.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 TZS 481

$0.27 Rp 4,839

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,554

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,924

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 TZS 20.1K

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

33.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 TZS 3,387

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

69.74%

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

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

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

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

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

$28.92 TZS 76.0K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-65.39%

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

$8.68 TZS 22.8K

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

34.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.20 TZS 126.7K

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

153.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 TZS 170.1K

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

15.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

9.11%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,465 TZS 19.6M

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

27.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 TZS 757.7K

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-74.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 TZS 609.7K

$701 Rp 12.5M

-66.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 TZS 1.3M

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-86.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 TZS 1.4M

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-70.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 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 Arusha: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Arusha versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $65.0 vs $293 – making Arusha the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arusha vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $562 in Arusha, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 149% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $842 per month in Arusha and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arusha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $562 in Arusha and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arusha, where all-in costs run around $562, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Arusha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $562 in Arusha to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arusha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.