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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Mbeya vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $664 per month in Mbeya vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $898 per month in Mbeya vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mbeya is about 69% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mbeya sits 69% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

-40.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

36.05%

Cappuccino

$1.47 TZS 3,863

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

-44.32%

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

$0.36 TZS 956

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-78.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,918

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

-72.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,437

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

-64.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 TZS 2,386

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-59.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,420

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

-18.58%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,995

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 TZS 9,830

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

-78.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,951

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

-2.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.44 TZS 9,038

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

-72.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,026

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-68.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,038

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,526

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

-59.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,892

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-65.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,415

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-51.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-67.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,451

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-46.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$0.55 Rp 9,809

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.10 TZS 2,890

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

-51.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-83.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 TZS 1,943

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

-67.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 TZS 2,917

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

-60.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 TZS 1,036

$0.27 Rp 4,816

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 TZS 2,916

$0.48 Rp 8,515

131.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 TZS 4,908

$0.45 Rp 7,887

315.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 TZS 7,031

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

-53.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,133

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

56.58%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

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

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-71.60%

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

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

191.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

135.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

-32.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

121.03%

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

$185 TZS 486.7K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-61.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

-80.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

-75.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

-73.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

-76.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-66.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-90.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-89.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 TZS 493.6K

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-94.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 294.3K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-93.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 TZS 504.5K

$170 Rp 3.0M

13.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-5.66%

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

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $112 in Mbeya 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 13% higher in Mbeya, 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 $23.00 in Mbeya versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $115 vs $293 – making Mbeya 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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 224%, 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 $646 per month in Mbeya 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 Mbeya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $431 in Mbeya and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $185 per month in Mbeya and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $431, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbeya – 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 Mbeya. 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.