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 $837 per month in Essaouira vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Essaouira vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Essaouira vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Essaouira is about 41% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Essaouira sits 37% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 MAD 40.68

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

26.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 MAD 234

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

-22.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MAD 46.37

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

2.69%

Cappuccino

$1.76 MAD 16.37

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

-36.00%

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

$0.46 MAD 4.26

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.41

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

-65.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 MAD 35.36

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

26.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MAD 34.69

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-3.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 MAD 7.87

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-51.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 MAD 4.57

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-80.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 MAD 15.43

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

41.03%

Eggs

$1.81 MAD 16.90

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

-25.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 MAD 86.1

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-36.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 MAD 49.31

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

21.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 MAD 107

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

-4.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 MAD 13.21

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

-61.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 MAD 11.42

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-25.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.69

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-73.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.22

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

-60.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MAD 6.52

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-63.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.48

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-60.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

-63.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MAD 4.97

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MAD 38.66

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

26.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MAD 60.1

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-72.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MAD 18.03

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-30.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.52

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

-19.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 MAD 8.11

$0.27 Rp 4,765

222.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.46 MAD 154

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

102.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 MAD 5.92

$0.48 Rp 8,636

31.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.43

$0.42 Rp 7,511

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 MAD 83.8

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

44.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.70

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

95.06%

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

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

39.64%

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

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-34.58%

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

$27.86 MAD 260

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-64.44%

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

$13.90 MAD 130

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

241.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.94 MAD 261

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

14.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 MAD 202

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-78.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.76 MAD 212

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

258.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MAD 62.0

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

66.67%

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

$75.3 MAD 702

$305 Rp 5.5M

-75.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

-70.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.88 MAD 288

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-42.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.68 MAD 370

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

4.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.28 MAD 460

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-43.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.34 MAD 413

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MAD 3,617

$992 Rp 17.7M

-60.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 MAD 3,229

$673 Rp 12.0M

-48.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 MAD 7,584

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-75.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 MAD 5,209

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-72.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,498

$167 Rp 3.0M

60.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

13.28

-58.58%

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

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $992 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 60% 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 $25.00 in Essaouira versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $297 – 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 68%, 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 $1,256 per month in Essaouira and $2,112 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.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.