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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $703 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,102 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,501 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 96% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Dar es Salaam is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$1.85 TZS 4,870

80.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$18.78 TZS 49.4K

90.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$8.46 TZS 22.2K

-33.45%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.89 TZS 4,957

49.21%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.35 TZS 915

400.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.22 TZS 579

263.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$0.93 TZS 2,456

226.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$1.84 TZS 4,837

133.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$0.79 TZS 2,077

103.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.61 TZS 1,605

272.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.09 TZS 2,860

7.34%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.92 TZS 5,042

13.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

88.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

-13.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$4.02 TZS 10.6K

202.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.52 TZS 6,621

43.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.01 TZS 2,660

62.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$0.99 TZS 2,614

133.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.05 TZS 2,758

86.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.93 TZS 2,434

97.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.01 TZS 2,663

134.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.81 TZS 2,139

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.35 TZS 933

54.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$2.30 TZS 6,044

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

232.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$0.84 TZS 2,215

178.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$1.57 TZS 4,121

95.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.24 TZS 626

4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$14.67 TZS 38.6K

-35.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.66 TZS 4,366

-70.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$1.53 TZS 4,017

-69.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$13.46 TZS 35.4K

-58.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.33 TZS 3,494

-39.10%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$16.7K TZS 43.8M

49.99%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$26.5K TZS 69.6M

17.37%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$56.2 TZS 147.7K

47.21%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$9.00 TZS 23.6K

-27.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$34.47 TZS 90.6K

-45.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$83.5 TZS 219.5K

-33.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$8.09 TZS 21.3K

125.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.22 TZS 13.7K

-17.62%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$577 TZS 1.5M

-14.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$13.2K TZS 34.6M

-55.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$14.39 TZS 37.8K

221.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$26.26 TZS 69.0K

38.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$44.87 TZS 118.0K

79.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$65.7 TZS 172.7K

19.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$605 TZS 1.6M

84.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$198 TZS 519.3K

250.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

164.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$444 TZS 1.2M

285.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$1,540 TZS 4.0M

79.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,076 TZS 2.8M

113.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$283 TZS 743.9K

-40.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

18.25

-24.49%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $605 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 69% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $151 – 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 96%, 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 $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,055 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 $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $577 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 95% 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 $703, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.