🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Meknes versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Meknes versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,298 in Meknes versus $3,732 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 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.20MAD 20.35
$3.57Rp 61.9K
-38.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.47MAD 115
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-61.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40MAD 49.91
$5.07Rp 87.8K
6.51%
Cappuccino
$1.27MAD 11.76
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-55.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MAD 6.38
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-48.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MAD 4.14
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-34.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MAD 29.86
$2.99Rp 51.8K
8.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20MAD 38.81
$3.85Rp 66.7K
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87MAD 8.01
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.35MAD 3.20
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-86.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MAD 11.64
$1.19Rp 20.6K
5.88%
Eggs
$1.91MAD 17.67
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-21.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.88MAD 101
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-25.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.37MAD 40.42
$4.18Rp 72.4K
4.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.33MAD 86.3
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-21.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37MAD 12.66
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-62.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20MAD 11.07
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-25.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93MAD 8.59
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-65.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.17
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-71.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.77
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-61.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.83
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-66.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43MAD 3.94
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-59.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.77
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36MAD 40.31
$3.13Rp 54.3K
39.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.55MAD 107
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-50.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89MAD 26.76
$2.74Rp 47.5K
5.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67MAD 24.72
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-7.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45MAD 4.19
$0.29Rp 5,029
55.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.32MAD 151
$8.17Rp 141.6K
99.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.40MAD 3.69
$0.45Rp 7,863
-11.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.48
$0.42Rp 7,305
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.50MAD 41.61
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-26.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MAD 14.18
$0.84Rp 14.6K
82.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMAD 341.9K
$26.2KRp 454.9M
40.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KMAD 263.8K
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-12.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.31MAD 345
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-52.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.72MAD 99.1
$3.95Rp 68.5K
171.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.14MAD 307
$24.40Rp 423.0K
35.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.93MAD 231
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-74.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26MAD 178
$6.35Rp 110.0K
203.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38MAD 40.51
$4.04Rp 70.0K
8.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150MAD 1,384
$303Rp 5.2M
-50.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,643MAD 15.2K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-74.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32MAD 428
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-13.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60MAD 366
$37.98Rp 658.3K
4.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.2MAD 529
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-34.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.1MAD 500
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-31.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274MAD 2,532
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-72.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171MAD 1,579
$674Rp 11.7M
-74.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$416MAD 3,845
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-87.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$285MAD 2,638
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-86.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$954MAD 8,824
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-68.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$646MAD 5,976
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-72.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$497MAD 4,593
$173Rp 3.0M
186.79%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Meknes and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Meknes pays 187% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Meknes vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 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 Ubud, Bali?
Meknes pays 187% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $274 in Meknes versus $1,012 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $33.00 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 $670 per month in Meknes versus $1,438 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $670 in Meknes versus $1,438 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 $670 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.