😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,327 in Dakar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,194 in Dakar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,061 in Dakar.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 7% more expensive than Dakar, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Dakar is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$5.42F CFA 3,061
-34.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$53.3F CFA 30.1K
-38.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$10.21F CFA 5,761
-51.52%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$4.43F CFA 2,500
-38.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$0.86F CFA 484
55.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$1.09F CFA 616
-35.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$2.57F CFA 1,451
13.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$4.36F CFA 2,460
-9.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$2.52F CFA 1,424
-28.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$0.64F CFA 360
293.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.61F CFA 907
-27.95%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$2.88F CFA 1,627
-14.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$12.78F CFA 7,215
15.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$9.50F CFA 5,361
-54.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$10.76F CFA 6,075
12.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$2.72F CFA 1,538
41.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$1.99F CFA 1,122
-21.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$2.61F CFA 1,475
8.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$2.08F CFA 1,175
12.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$1.50F CFA 845
27.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.34F CFA 759
64.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$1.06F CFA 600
-4.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.82F CFA 460
-4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$1.61F CFA 909
106.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
$15.38F CFA 8,682
54.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$1.18F CFA 668
136.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$2.22F CFA 1,255
28.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
$0.36F CFA 204
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
$80.5F CFA 45.5K
-90.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$2.68F CFA 1,515
-82.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
$2.83F CFA 1,600
-84.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$17.99F CFA 10.2K
-66.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.71F CFA 964
-53.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$36.1KF CFA 20.4M
-27.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$49.2KF CFA 27.8M
-34.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$138F CFA 78.1K
-42.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$9.92F CFA 5,602
-59.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$50.4F CFA 28.5K
-53.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$56.4F CFA 31.8K
75.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
$21.41F CFA 12.1K
-69.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$9.02F CFA 5,091
-53.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$272F CFA 153.6K
11.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$7,169F CFA 4.0M
-7.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$68.6F CFA 38.7K
-19.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$43.93F CFA 24.8K
-12.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$103F CFA 58.2K
-14.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$131F CFA 74.1K
-40.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$914F CFA 515.7K
10.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$369F CFA 208.4K
82.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
$1,863F CFA 1.1M
84.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
$938F CFA 529.3K
117.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
$4,996F CFA 2.8M
-43.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
$1,491F CFA 841.9K
51.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Dakar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$431F CFA 243.4K
-61.69%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Dakar: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $914 in Dakar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dakar pays 161% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $53.0 in Dakar. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $276, 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 Dakar?
Ubud, Bali and Dakar differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $1,327 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, Dakar earns 161% less. 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 Dakar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $914 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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,327 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 Dakar?
A monthly transit pass in Dakar runs roughly 903% 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 $1,327 in Dakar versus $1,419 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