🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Meknes versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Meknes versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Meknes versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Meknes costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Meknes is 47% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25MAD 30.81
$3.44Rp 60.9K
-5.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.66MAD 149
$36.31Rp 643.0K
-56.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38MAD 60.6
$5.71Rp 101.0K
11.73%
Cappuccino
$1.25MAD 11.89
$2.67Rp 47.3K
-53.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MAD 8.62
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-48.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42MAD 4.00
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-51.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.10MAD 29.36
$2.95Rp 52.3K
5.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MAD 34.89
$4.52Rp 80.0K
-18.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.97
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-48.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40MAD 3.77
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-82.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MAD 11.90
$1.11Rp 19.6K
13.51%
Eggs
$1.86MAD 17.68
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-15.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.28MAD 145
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-13.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.29MAD 50.2
$4.10Rp 72.5K
29.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.69MAD 91.9
$12.18Rp 215.6K
-20.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31MAD 12.40
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-64.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23MAD 11.68
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-22.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.33
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-70.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60MAD 5.66
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-69.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56MAD 5.32
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-70.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.59
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-65.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47MAD 4.50
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-53.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.53
$0.55Rp 9,773
5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14MAD 39.30
$2.23Rp 39.5K
85.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.87MAD 103
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-52.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33MAD 31.59
$2.42Rp 42.8K
37.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MAD 25.21
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-11.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MAD 4.13
$0.27Rp 4,814
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.13MAD 153
$8.98Rp 159.1K
79.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.91
$0.48Rp 8,566
52.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MAD 5.15
$0.43Rp 7,679
25.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.64Rp 99.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MAD 13.55
$0.80Rp 14.2K
78.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KMAD 330.4K
$24.9KRp 441.7M
39.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KMAD 296.0K
$31.7KRp 561.5M
-1.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.36MAD 297
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-61.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.65MAD 91.5
$6.49Rp 115.0K
48.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.69MAD 329
$18.77Rp 332.4K
84.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.45MAD 279
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-48.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.01MAD 323
$18.73Rp 331.7K
81.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15MAD 39.35
$4.54Rp 80.4K
-8.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MAD 1,201
$481Rp 8.5M
-73.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,711Rp 101.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2MAD 637
$45.52Rp 806.0K
47.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.3MAD 609
$35.88Rp 635.4K
79.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MAD 982
$80.4Rp 1.4M
28.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3MAD 638
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-14.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276MAD 2,616
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-75.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177MAD 1,676
$698Rp 12.4M
-74.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473MAD 4,490
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-86.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295MAD 2,794
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-83.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$982MAD 9,308
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-64.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$631MAD 5,988
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-72.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$479MAD 4,543
$168Rp 3.0M
185.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
13.78
-67.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Meknes and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Meknes pays 185% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Meknes vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $295 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 87% 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 185% 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: $276 in Meknes versus $1,115 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 $16.00 versus $36.00 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 $731 per month in Meknes versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 87% 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 $731 in Meknes versus $1,368 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 $731 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 87% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.