🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Meknes versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $980 in Meknes versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,293 in Meknes versus $3,694 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 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16MAD 19.95
$3.57Rp 64.0K
-39.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.73MAD 118
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-60.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40MAD 49.94
$4.86Rp 87.1K
11.11%
Cappuccino
$1.33MAD 12.28
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-51.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MAD 6.42
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-47.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.07
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-37.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26MAD 30.17
$2.91Rp 52.2K
12.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13MAD 38.25
$3.79Rp 68.0K
8.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86MAD 7.95
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-49.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.32MAD 2.93
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-87.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25MAD 11.54
$1.20Rp 21.5K
4.17%
Eggs
$1.99MAD 18.45
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-18.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.90MAD 101
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-24.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.49MAD 41.52
$4.31Rp 77.1K
4.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.20MAD 85.1
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-24.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33MAD 12.35
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-63.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.47
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92MAD 8.55
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-67.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.67
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-69.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.70
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-63.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.86
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-67.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.91
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-60.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.45
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-19.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MAD 40.55
$3.28Rp 58.8K
33.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.51MAD 106
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-49.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85MAD 26.38
$2.81Rp 50.3K
1.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MAD 25.65
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42MAD 3.92
$0.29Rp 5,217
44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.56MAD 153
$8.06Rp 144.4K
105.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39MAD 3.61
$0.45Rp 8,047
-13.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.40
$0.45Rp 8,094
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.27MAD 39.53
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-31.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48MAD 13.74
$0.85Rp 15.2K
74.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KMAD 348.6K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
45.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMAD 262.2K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-10.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.11MAD 343
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-54.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.79MAD 99.8
$4.06Rp 72.7K
165.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.11MAD 306
$24.42Rp 437.6K
35.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.20MAD 224
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-75.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26MAD 178
$6.45Rp 115.5K
198.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40MAD 40.70
$4.04Rp 72.4K
8.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151MAD 1,399
$304Rp 5.4M
-50.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,629MAD 15.1K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-75.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.80MAD 414
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-17.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23MAD 372
$38.78Rp 694.7K
3.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.6MAD 532
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-33.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0MAD 508
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-28.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271MAD 2,507
$986Rp 17.7M
-72.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,620
$658Rp 11.8M
-73.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423MAD 3,916
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-87.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286MAD 2,645
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-86.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$934MAD 8,638
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-65.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633MAD 5,858
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-71.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$506MAD 4,679
$163Rp 2.9M
209.48%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Meknes and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Meknes pays 209% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $297 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 111% 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 209% 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: $271 in Meknes versus $986 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 $13.00 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 $666 per month in Meknes versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 111% 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 $666 in Meknes versus $1,404 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 $666 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 111% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.