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: $1,327 in Dakar versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,194 in Dakar versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,061 in Dakar versus $3,660 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 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 F CFA 3,058

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

52.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

62.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 F CFA 5,755

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

106.26%

Cappuccino

$4.43 F CFA 2,498

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

63.47%

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

$0.86 F CFA 484

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-35.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 F CFA 615

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

55.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 F CFA 1,450

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-11.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 F CFA 2,457

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

10.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 F CFA 1,423

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

39.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 F CFA 360

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-74.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 F CFA 906

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

38.79%

Eggs

$2.88 F CFA 1,625

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

17.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 F CFA 7,209

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-13.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.50 F CFA 5,357

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

119.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 F CFA 6,069

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-11.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 F CFA 1,536

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-29.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 F CFA 1,121

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

27.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 F CFA 1,473

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-7.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 F CFA 1,174

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-10.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 844

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-21.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 758

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-39.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 F CFA 600

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 F CFA 460

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.61 F CFA 908

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-51.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 F CFA 8,674

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-35.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 F CFA 667

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-57.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 F CFA 1,254

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-22.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 204

$0.27 Rp 4,800

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 F CFA 45.4K

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

902.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 F CFA 1,514

$0.46 Rp 8,150

482.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 F CFA 1,598

$0.45 Rp 8,037

528.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.99 F CFA 10.1K

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

194.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 F CFA 963

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

116.46%

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

$36.1K F CFA 20.4M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

38.00%

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

$49.2K F CFA 27.8M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

53.31%

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

$138 F CFA 78.0K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

73.09%

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

$9.92 F CFA 5,597

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

144.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.4 F CFA 28.4K

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

114.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 F CFA 31.8K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-42.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.41 F CFA 12.1K

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

222.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 F CFA 5,086

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

117.35%

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

$272 F CFA 153.4K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-10.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,169 F CFA 4.0M

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

8.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 F CFA 38.7K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

23.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.93 F CFA 24.8K

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

14.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 F CFA 58.2K

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

16.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 F CFA 74.1K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

68.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$914 F CFA 515.2K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-9.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 F CFA 208.2K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-45.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 F CFA 1.1M

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-45.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$938 F CFA 528.9K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-54.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,996 F CFA 2.8M

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

75.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,491 F CFA 841.1K

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-34.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 F CFA 243.2K

$165 Rp 3.0M

161.00%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Dakar and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dakar pays 161% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Dakar vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $302, 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 ($1,327 vs $1,419 including rent). Dakar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Dakar pays 161% more on average, 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: $914 in Dakar versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,327 per month in Dakar versus $1,419 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 903% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,327 in Dakar versus $1,419 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.