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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $877 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,409 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,941 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 60% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% 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 64.0K

$2.85 TZS 7,431

25.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

69.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

-36.47%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.02 TZS 5,274

36.14%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.35 TZS 922

277.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.24 TZS 628

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.09 TZS 2,839

166.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$1.92 TZS 5,005

97.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.02 TZS 2,672

67.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.79 TZS 2,051

212.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.08 TZS 2,826

11.11%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.08 TZS 5,438

17.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

54.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

-24.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

185.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.58 TZS 6,720

42.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.05 TZS 2,749

47.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.02 TZS 2,663

173.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.03 TZS 2,699

126.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.96 TZS 2,506

105.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.50 TZS 3,926

54.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.90 TZS 2,339

17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.40 TZS 1,053

82.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.05 TZS 5,345

60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$6.91 TZS 18.0K

229.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$0.90 TZS 2,342

212.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.65 TZS 4,309

68.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.24 TZS 622

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$17.36 TZS 45.3K

-53.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.47 TZS 3,843

-69.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$1.50 TZS 3,908

-70.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$13.64 TZS 35.6K

-54.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.21 TZS 3,154

-29.75%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$17.0K TZS 44.4M

52.81%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$17.5K TZS 45.5M

81.37%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$98.3 TZS 256.4K

-17.83%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

-61.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$32.44 TZS 84.6K

-24.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$95.6 TZS 249.5K

2.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$4.90 TZS 12.8K

31.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$4.93 TZS 12.9K

-18.05%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$255 TZS 664.1K

19.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$18.9K TZS 49.4M

-65.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$26.15 TZS 68.2K

107.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$42.61 TZS 111.2K

-8.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$46.76 TZS 122.0K

84.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$83.0 TZS 216.6K

-7.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$579 TZS 1.5M

70.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$257 TZS 669.8K

156.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$1,291 TZS 3.4M

161.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$654 TZS 1.7M

215.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,521 TZS 4.0M

80.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

101.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$282 TZS 736.2K

-42.08%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $579 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 73% 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: $297 vs $164 – 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 60%, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,315 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 $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $255 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 81% 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 $877, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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.