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: $1,470 in Dakar versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Dakar versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Dakar versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Dakar is roughly 5% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dakar 7% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 F CFA 2,943

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

54.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 F CFA 31.5K

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

44.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.44 F CFA 6,446

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

107.25%

Cappuccino

$3.56 F CFA 2,006

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

34.85%

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

$1.25 F CFA 707

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-25.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 F CFA 501

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

15.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 F CFA 1,470

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

-0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 F CFA 2,467

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

2.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.85 F CFA 1,604

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

83.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 F CFA 434

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-65.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 F CFA 996

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

56.64%

Eggs

$2.54 F CFA 1,431

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

21.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.81 F CFA 10.0K

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

2.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.26 F CFA 5,220

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

139.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 F CFA 6,395

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

-9.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 F CFA 1,886

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-7.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 F CFA 1,136

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

28.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 F CFA 1,674

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

26.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 F CFA 1,054

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-9.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 F CFA 784

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-26.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 F CFA 556

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-57.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 F CFA 642

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

10.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 F CFA 378

$0.55 Rp 9,809

21.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 F CFA 1,225

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

-3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.05 F CFA 10.2K

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-24.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 F CFA 911

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

-29.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 F CFA 1,897

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

20.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 F CFA 215

$0.27 Rp 4,816

40.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.3 F CFA 45.8K

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

838.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 F CFA 1,270

$0.48 Rp 8,515

368.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 F CFA 1,267

$0.45 Rp 7,887

400.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.99 F CFA 10.1K

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

214.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 F CFA 946

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

121.05%

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

$52.4K F CFA 29.5M

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

113.93%

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

$49.8K F CFA 28.1M

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

55.17%

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

$213 F CFA 119.9K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

154.57%

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

$11.99 F CFA 6,756

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

85.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.19 F CFA 26.6K

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

148.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.17 F CFA 26.0K

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

-17.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.08 F CFA 13.6K

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

29.32%

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 F CFA 4,916

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

103.74%

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

$330 F CFA 186.1K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-32.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K F CFA 6.1M

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

84.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 F CFA 33.6K

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

31.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.50 F CFA 26.8K

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

30.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 F CFA 50.5K

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

9.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 F CFA 56.4K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

24.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 F CFA 474.1K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-24.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 F CFA 250.8K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-36.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 F CFA 1.0M

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-49.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 F CFA 539.4K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-45.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,987 F CFA 2.8M

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

76.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,582 F CFA 891.6K

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

-30.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 F CFA 198.4K

$170 Rp 3.0M

107.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.75

13.78

-36.50%

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

Last update for Dakar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $841 in Dakar and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dakar pays 107% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $56.0 in Dakar vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 5% in total monthly costs ($1,470 vs $1,396 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 107% 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: $841 in Dakar versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,470 per month in Dakar versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 838% less than in Dakar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,470 in Dakar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Dakar. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Dakar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.