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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $858 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,399 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,940 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 62% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Dar es Salaam is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

$2.75 TZS 7,158

29.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

65.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

-33.99%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

$2.01 TZS 5,234

40.30%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.36 TZS 927

275.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.24 TZS 624

204.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.07 TZS 2,791

173.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

$1.95 TZS 5,056

102.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$1.06 TZS 2,759

67.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

$0.79 TZS 2,046

210.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

$1.09 TZS 2,844

5.50%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

$1.98 TZS 5,145

21.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

53.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

-29.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

182.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

$2.59 TZS 6,719

40.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.01 TZS 2,637

55.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

$1.02 TZS 2,663

173.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$1.05 TZS 2,720

113.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

$0.96 TZS 2,499

106.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

$1.58 TZS 4,109

44.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

$0.83 TZS 2,158

26.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.40 TZS 1,050

97.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

$2.01 TZS 5,226

58.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

244.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

$0.96 TZS 2,500

202.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

$1.62 TZS 4,203

70.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,821

$0.24 TZS 622

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

-51.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,180

$1.44 TZS 3,736

-68.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

$1.55 TZS 4,029

-70.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

-54.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.24 TZS 3,233

-30.65%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

58.19%

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

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

89.13%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

-17.97%

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

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

-61.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

-26.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

3.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

35.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

-14.50%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$256 TZS 664.4K

16.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

-65.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

107.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

-11.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

93.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

-9.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$581 TZS 1.5M

75.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$258 TZS 671.1K

163.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

159.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

$661 TZS 1.7M

216.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

80.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

109.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$278 TZS 722.6K

-41.13%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $581 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 70% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $166 – 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 62%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,287 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 $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $256 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 80% 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 $858, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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.