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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Dakar versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,117 in Dakar versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Dakar costs roughly 6% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dakar is 1% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 F CFA 3,114

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

57.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 F CFA 29.9K

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

61.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 F CFA 5,849

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

110.74%

Cappuccino

$4.37 F CFA 2,509

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

58.91%

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

$0.89 F CFA 511

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-35.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 F CFA 620

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 F CFA 1,551

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

-9.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 F CFA 2,584

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

17.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 F CFA 1,474

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

47.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 F CFA 385

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-72.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 F CFA 927

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

38.46%

Eggs

$2.76 F CFA 1,582

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

13.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 F CFA 7,271

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-12.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,416

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

117.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 F CFA 6,088

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-11.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 F CFA 1,603

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

-24.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 F CFA 1,137

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

21.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 F CFA 1,481

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

-5.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 F CFA 1,227

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-4.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 F CFA 882

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

-19.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 771

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-41.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 F CFA 614

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

0.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 F CFA 468

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 F CFA 892

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

-52.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 F CFA 9,762

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-26.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 F CFA 648

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

-59.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 F CFA 1,282

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

-18.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 208

$0.27 Rp 4,778

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.0 F CFA 45.3K

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

873.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 F CFA 1,478

$0.48 Rp 8,659

437.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 F CFA 1,607

$0.42 Rp 7,532

566.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.55 F CFA 10.1K

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

182.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 F CFA 1,021

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

119.75%

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

$36.9K F CFA 21.2M

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

38.61%

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

$50.1K F CFA 28.7M

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

55.55%

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

$140 F CFA 80.1K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

78.23%

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

$9.57 F CFA 5,488

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

135.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

101.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 F CFA 31.8K

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-43.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 F CFA 12.3K

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

239.27%

Cinema Ticket

$8.75 F CFA 5,019

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

119.30%

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

$268 F CFA 153.5K

$305 Rp 5.5M

-12.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,349 F CFA 4.2M

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

10.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 F CFA 39.1K

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

25.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.58 F CFA 25.0K

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

15.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 F CFA 60.1K

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

20.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 F CFA 73.7K

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

68.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 F CFA 533.8K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 F CFA 211.5K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-45.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 F CFA 1.1M

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-43.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$933 F CFA 534.8K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-54.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,047 F CFA 2.9M

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

79.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 F CFA 828.4K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-35.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 F CFA 241.0K

$167 Rp 3.0M

151.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

13.28

-37.88%

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

Last update for Dakar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Dakar and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dakar pays 152% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Dakar vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $297, with Dakar cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Dakar and Ubud, Bali differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,318 vs $1,408 including rent). Dakar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 152% higher in Dakar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $931 in Dakar versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,318 per month in Dakar versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dakar runs roughly 874% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dakar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Dakar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dakar and Ubud, Bali 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 Dakar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.