Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 68% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Essaouira is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$4.36 MAD 40.68

-20.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$25.14 MAD 234

28.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$4.97 MAD 46.37

-2.62%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.76 MAD 16.37

56.25%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.46 MAD 4.26

200.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.26 MAD 2.41

188.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$3.79 MAD 35.36

-21.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.72 MAD 34.69

3.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$0.84 MAD 7.87

107.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$0.49 MAD 4.57

402.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.65 MAD 15.43

-29.09%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.81 MAD 16.90

34.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$9.24 MAD 86.1

56.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$5.29 MAD 49.31

-17.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$11.42 MAD 107

4.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$1.42 MAD 13.21

161.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.22 MAD 11.42

33.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$0.72 MAD 6.69

280.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$0.88 MAD 8.22

154.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$0.70 MAD 6.52

174.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$0.91 MAD 8.48

150.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.39 MAD 3.66

171.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.53 MAD 4.97

35.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$4.15 MAD 38.66

-20.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$6.45 MAD 60.1

259.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.93 MAD 18.03

44.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$2.20 MAD 20.52

24.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-68.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$16.46 MAD 154

-50.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$0.63 MAD 5.92

-23.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.48 MAD 4.43

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-30.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-48.73%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

-28.39%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

52.85%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$27.86 MAD 260

181.23%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$13.90 MAD 130

-70.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$27.94 MAD 261

-12.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$21.61 MAD 202

356.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$22.76 MAD 212

-72.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$6.65 MAD 62.0

-40.00%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$75.3 MAD 702

305.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

239.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$30.88 MAD 288

75.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$39.68 MAD 370

-4.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$49.28 MAD 460

76.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$44.34 MAD 413

72.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$388 MAD 3,617

155.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$346 MAD 3,229

94.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$813 MAD 7,584

314.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$559 MAD 5,209

267.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$268 MAD 2,498

-37.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

5.5

141.45%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $388 in Essaouira. 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 60% higher in Essaouira, 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 $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $176 – making Essaouira 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 Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 68%, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,256 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 69% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – 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 Essaouira. 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.