😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,318 in Dakar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,218 in Dakar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,117 in Dakar.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 7% more expensive than in Dakar, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Dakar is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$5.43F CFA 3,117
-36.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$52.2F CFA 30.0K
-38.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$10.20F CFA 5,856
-52.55%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$4.37F CFA 2,512
-37.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$0.89F CFA 512
55.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$1.08F CFA 620
-30.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$2.70F CFA 1,552
10.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$4.51F CFA 2,587
-14.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$2.57F CFA 1,476
-32.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$0.67F CFA 385
267.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.62F CFA 928
-27.78%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$2.76F CFA 1,584
-11.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$12.68F CFA 7,278
14.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$9.44F CFA 5,421
-53.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$10.61F CFA 6,094
12.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$2.80F CFA 1,605
32.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.98F CFA 1,138
-17.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$2.58F CFA 1,483
6.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$2.14F CFA 1,228
4.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$1.54F CFA 883
24.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$1.34F CFA 772
70.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.07F CFA 615
-0.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.82F CFA 469
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$1.55F CFA 893
112.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$17.02F CFA 9,773
36.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.13F CFA 649
146.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$2.23F CFA 1,283
22.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$0.36F CFA 208
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$79.0F CFA 45.3K
-89.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$2.58F CFA 1,480
-81.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$2.80F CFA 1,608
-85.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$17.55F CFA 10.1K
-64.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.78F CFA 1,022
-54.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$36.9KF CFA 21.2M
-27.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$50.1KF CFA 28.7M
-35.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$140F CFA 80.2K
-43.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$9.57F CFA 5,494
-57.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$49.00F CFA 28.1K
-50.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$55.5F CFA 31.9K
77.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$21.51F CFA 12.4K
-70.53%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$8.75F CFA 5,024
-54.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$268F CFA 153.7K
13.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$7,349F CFA 4.2M
-9.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$68.1F CFA 39.1K
-20.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$43.58F CFA 25.0K
-13.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$105F CFA 60.2K
-17.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$128F CFA 73.8K
-40.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$931F CFA 534.4K
6.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$369F CFA 211.7K
82.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$1,907F CFA 1.1M
76.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$933F CFA 535.4K
119.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
$5,047F CFA 2.9M
-44.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
$1,444F CFA 829.2K
54.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$420F CFA 241.3K
-60.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
8.25
60.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Dakar: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $931 in Dakar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dakar pays 152% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $52.0 in Dakar. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $279, with Dakar cheaper for home cooking.
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
Ubud, Bali vs Dakar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Dakar?
Ubud, Bali and Dakar differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $1,318 including rent). Dakar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 152% lower in Dakar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Dakar?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $931 in Dakar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Dakar?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,318 in Dakar – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Dakar?
A monthly transit pass in Dakar runs roughly 874% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dakar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Dakar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Dakar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Dakar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Dakar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Dakar?
Expats usually find Dakar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared