🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Meknes versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $986 in Meknes versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,324 in Meknes versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Meknes costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Meknes is 51% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25MAD 20.97
$3.57Rp 64.5K
-36.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.70MAD 118
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-60.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35MAD 49.91
$5.01Rp 90.4K
6.79%
Cappuccino
$1.31MAD 12.18
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-53.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75MAD 6.97
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-44.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MAD 4.45
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37MAD 31.44
$2.93Rp 53.0K
15.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08MAD 38.05
$3.94Rp 71.1K
3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81MAD 7.53
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-54.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.32MAD 2.96
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-86.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30MAD 12.09
$1.15Rp 20.7K
13.04%
Eggs
$1.91MAD 17.85
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-20.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.96MAD 102
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-23.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.51MAD 42.02
$4.19Rp 75.6K
7.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.45MAD 88.1
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-21.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.38MAD 12.85
$3.64Rp 65.7K
-62.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25MAD 11.66
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-20.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90MAD 8.42
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-67.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.14
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-70.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.69
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-63.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.05
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46MAD 4.30
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-56.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MAD 5.34
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-27.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MAD 40.88
$3.19Rp 57.6K
37.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.26MAD 105
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-52.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82MAD 26.32
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-2.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MAD 24.82
$2.76Rp 49.7K
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46MAD 4.25
$0.27Rp 4,813
70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.53MAD 154
$8.37Rp 151.1K
97.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39MAD 3.66
$0.45Rp 8,167
-13.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.86
$0.46Rp 8,298
13.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.45MAD 41.52
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-26.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MAD 13.87
$0.86Rp 15.6K
73.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KMAD 342.8K
$26.6KRp 480.0M
38.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMAD 270.7K
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-10.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.82MAD 353
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-52.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.76MAD 100
$4.09Rp 73.9K
163.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.00MAD 317
$23.85Rp 430.5K
42.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.36MAD 227
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-75.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34MAD 180
$6.35Rp 114.7K
204.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42MAD 41.23
$4.01Rp 72.3K
10.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154MAD 1,434
$297Rp 5.4M
-48.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,668MAD 15.6K
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-74.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.92MAD 428
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-14.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.74MAD 380
$38.11Rp 688.1K
6.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.6MAD 528
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-36.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.3MAD 506
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-29.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270MAD 2,515
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-73.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$169MAD 1,578
$680Rp 12.3M
-75.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$420MAD 3,913
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-87.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$278MAD 2,589
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-86.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$981MAD 9,144
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-64.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$612MAD 5,702
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-73.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$485MAD 4,524
$164Rp 3.0M
196.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
13.28
-66.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Meknes: July 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Meknes and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Meknes pays 196% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Meknes vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $298 per month, with Meknes cheaper across the board.
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
Meknes vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Meknes or Ubud, Bali?
Meknes wins on cost – living expenses run 115% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Meknes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Meknes or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 196% higher in Meknes, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Meknes compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Meknes versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Meknes and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Meknes compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $647 per month in Meknes versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Meknes or in Ubud, Bali?
At $647 in Meknes versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Meknes but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Meknes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Meknes or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Meknes delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $647 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Meknes hard to pass up.
How safe is Meknes compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Meknes 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Meknes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.