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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Essaouira vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Essaouira vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,613 per month in Essaouira vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Essaouira is about 42% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Essaouira sits 41% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 MAD 44.90

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

42.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 MAD 182

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

-49.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 MAD 72.5

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

40.40%

Cappuccino

$1.48 MAD 13.82

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

-43.94%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

-71.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MAD 3.68

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.24 MAD 49.03

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

99.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MAD 42.76

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

6.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.45

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

-41.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MAD 4.81

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

-77.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

61.06%

Eggs

$1.69 MAD 15.80

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

-19.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 MAD 80.5

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

-50.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 MAD 58.5

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

61.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 MAD 103

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

-12.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MAD 12.29

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

-63.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MAD 11.04

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

-24.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.43

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

-70.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.50

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

-61.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 MAD 5.37

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

-70.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.75

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MAD 3.38

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-65.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MAD 5.73

$0.55 Rp 9,781

10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 MAD 37.24

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

76.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 MAD 61.3

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

-72.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 MAD 17.13

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

-20.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.54

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

-21.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MAD 8.24

$0.27 Rp 4,803

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 MAD 6.20

$0.48 Rp 8,490

37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MAD 5.96

$0.45 Rp 7,865

42.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MAD 14.04

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

97.37%

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

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

44.81%

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

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

-4.20%

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

$25.43 MAD 238

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-69.56%

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

$18.07 MAD 169

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

179.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.61 MAD 286

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

61.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MAD 51.4

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

28.27%

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

$71.3 MAD 667

$487 Rp 8.6M

-85.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

-67.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.05 MAD 281

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

-34.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.60 MAD 427

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

25.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MAD 577

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

-24.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.99 MAD 402

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-46.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MAD 3,801

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-63.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MAD 3,331

$701 Rp 12.4M

-49.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 MAD 9,072

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

-72.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 MAD 5,555

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

-66.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,508

$170 Rp 3.0M

57.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

13.78

-52.83%

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

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Essaouira 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.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Essaouira, 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 Essaouira versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $293 – making Essaouira 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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 71%, 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 $1,224 per month in Essaouira 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 Essaouira, 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 $19.00 in Essaouira and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% 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 Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – 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 Essaouira. 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.