Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dar es Salaam Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dar es Salaam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $871 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,393 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,914 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 65% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Dar es Salaam is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$2.79 TZS 7,210

27.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$19.41 TZS 50.2K

67.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$7.93 TZS 20.5K

-36.07%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.95 TZS 5,053

45.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.39 TZS 1,003

243.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.22 TZS 568

213.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.07 TZS 2,778

179.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$1.95 TZS 5,038

97.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.08 TZS 2,790

61.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.81 TZS 2,108

213.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.12 TZS 2,911

6.25%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.97 TZS 5,112

23.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$9.46 TZS 24.5K

54.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$5.83 TZS 15.1K

-28.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$4.37 TZS 11.3K

173.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.61 TZS 6,764

41.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.05 TZS 2,724

53.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.05 TZS 2,729

156.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.04 TZS 2,702

124.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.94 TZS 2,441

103.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.53 TZS 3,968

43.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.91 TZS 2,350

16.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.44 TZS 1,138

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.04 TZS 5,289

53.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$6.44 TZS 16.7K

264.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$0.97 TZS 2,502

182.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$1.62 TZS 4,205

77.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.26 TZS 673

11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$17.10 TZS 44.3K

-52.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.49 TZS 3,852

-69.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$1.51 TZS 3,897

-72.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$13.43 TZS 34.8K

-54.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.25 TZS 3,244

-32.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$16.8K TZS 43.5M

56.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$17.2K TZS 44.6M

88.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$98.3 TZS 254.5K

-20.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$10.90 TZS 28.2K

-63.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$31.96 TZS 82.7K

-23.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$95.7 TZS 247.7K

0.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$4.79 TZS 12.4K

32.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$4.75 TZS 12.3K

-14.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.2M

$253 TZS 655.0K

19.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$19.3K TZS 49.9M

-66.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$25.75 TZS 66.7K

109.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$41.74 TZS 108.1K

-9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$46.25 TZS 119.7K

87.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$85.7 TZS 221.8K

-7.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$592 TZS 1.5M

71.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$256 TZS 663.1K

163.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

160.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$646 TZS 1.7M

224.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,522 TZS 3.9M

96.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

111.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$263 TZS 681.9K

-34.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

19.67

-32.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $592 in Dar es Salaam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Dar es Salaam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $167 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,307 in Dar es Salaam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $253 in Dar es Salaam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $871, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dar es Salaam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.