Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 39% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dar es Salaam sits 35% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,271

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

-21.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.7K

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

-40.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.7K

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

56.41%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,095

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

-31.10%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,012

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-70.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 572

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-68.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,802

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

-64.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,080

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

-49.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,813

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

-37.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,126

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-68.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,936

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

-5.88%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,155

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

-18.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.7K

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

-35.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.2K

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

39.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.4K

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

-63.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,821

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

-29.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,746

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-34.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,752

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-60.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-55.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,462

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

-50.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 4,002

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

-30.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,369

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-14.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,147

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,333

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

-34.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.8K

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

-72.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,523

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-64.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,240

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

-43.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 679

$0.29 Rp 5,010

-10.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.6K

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

109.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,884

$0.45 Rp 7,834

231.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,930

$0.42 Rp 7,278

259.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 35.1K

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

118.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,271

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

48.81%

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

$16.8K TZS 43.8M

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

-36.01%

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

$17.2K TZS 44.9M

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

-47.02%

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

$98.3 TZS 256.6K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

25.36%

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

$10.90 TZS 28.5K

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

175.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 83.4K

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

30.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.8K

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-0.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.5K

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

-24.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.4K

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

17.57%

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

$253 TZS 660.5K

$303 Rp 5.2M

-16.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

195.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.2K

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

-52.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 109.0K

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

9.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 120.7K

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

-46.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 223.7K

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-41.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 668.6K

$674 Rp 11.6M

-62.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-61.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-69.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 4.0M

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

-49.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

-52.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 687.7K

$173 Rp 3.0M

52.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

13.28

48.12%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $592 in Dar es Salaam versus $1,012 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.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Dar es Salaam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $298 – making Dar es Salaam 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

Dar es Salaam vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,307 per month in Dar es Salaam and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $253 per month in Dar es Salaam and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $871, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Dar es Salaam. 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.