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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $810 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,226 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,642 in Essaouira, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 75% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Essaouira is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$4.34 MAD 39.93

-17.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$24.74 MAD 228

32.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.99 MAD 45.97

-0.80%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.84 MAD 16.94

47.28%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.45 MAD 4.14

197.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.26 MAD 2.37

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$3.85 MAD 35.46

-24.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.57 MAD 32.89

10.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.85 MAD 7.81

112.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.53 MAD 4.91

375.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.69 MAD 15.60

-31.36%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.80 MAD 16.55

36.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$9.59 MAD 88.3

53.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$5.34 MAD 49.17

-19.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$11.51 MAD 106

5.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.37 MAD 12.57

180.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.27 MAD 11.72

22.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$0.72 MAD 6.61

293.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$0.93 MAD 8.58

150.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.69 MAD 6.37

176.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.92 MAD 8.49

139.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.39 MAD 3.60

158.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.54 MAD 4.93

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.07 MAD 37.50

-18.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$6.61 MAD 60.9

259.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.93 MAD 17.79

44.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.16 MAD 19.86

32.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.90 MAD 8.26

-70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$16.40 MAD 151

-51.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.68 MAD 6.27

-32.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.51 MAD 4.72

-11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$8.69 MAD 80.0

-29.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.58 MAD 14.57

-50.00%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$37.6K MAD 346.3K

-30.49%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$21.0K MAD 193.7K

52.68%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$28.04 MAD 258

185.09%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$13.82 MAD 127

-70.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$28.65 MAD 264

-17.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$22.11 MAD 204

346.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$23.63 MAD 218

-71.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$6.71 MAD 61.8

-38.15%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$75.6 MAD 696

302.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

232.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$31.43 MAD 289

76.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$39.79 MAD 366

-3.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$48.84 MAD 450

81.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$44.20 MAD 407

76.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$388 MAD 3,570

159.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$345 MAD 3,179

95.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$795 MAD 7,321

332.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$545 MAD 5,021

274.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$268 MAD 2,467

-38.33%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 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 62% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $179 – 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 75%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,215 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 $33.00 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 $810, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.