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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $816 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,214 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,613 in Essaouira, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 71% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Essaouira is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$4.80 MAD 44.90

-29.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

$19.41 MAD 182

98.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$7.75 MAD 72.5

-28.77%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$1.48 MAD 13.82

78.38%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$0.48 MAD 4.51

247.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.39 MAD 3.68

97.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$5.24 MAD 49.03

-49.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$4.57 MAD 42.76

-6.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$0.90 MAD 8.45

72.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$0.51 MAD 4.81

335.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$1.82 MAD 17.01

-37.91%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$1.69 MAD 15.80

23.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

$8.60 MAD 80.5

102.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$6.26 MAD 58.5

-38.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

$10.96 MAD 103

14.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$1.31 MAD 12.29

176.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.18 MAD 11.04

32.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$0.69 MAD 6.43

240.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$0.80 MAD 7.50

157.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$0.57 MAD 5.37

233.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$0.72 MAD 6.75

225.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$0.36 MAD 3.38

186.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,781

$0.61 MAD 5.73

-9.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$3.98 MAD 37.24

-43.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

$6.56 MAD 61.3

262.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$1.83 MAD 17.13

26.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

$2.20 MAD 20.54

27.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,803

$0.88 MAD 8.24

-69.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,490

$0.66 MAD 6.20

-27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,865

$0.64 MAD 5.96

-29.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.50 MAD 14.04

-49.33%

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

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

-30.94%

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

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

4.38%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$25.43 MAD 238

228.55%

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

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$18.07 MAD 169

-64.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

$30.61 MAD 286

-37.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$5.49 MAD 51.4

-22.04%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$71.3 MAD 667

581.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

205.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

$30.05 MAD 281

51.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

$45.60 MAD 427

-20.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$61.7 MAD 577

32.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$42.99 MAD 402

87.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$406 MAD 3,801

174.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$356 MAD 3,331

96.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$970 MAD 9,072

264.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$594 MAD 5,555

196.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$268 MAD 2,508

-36.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.5

112.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $406 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 58% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $177 – 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 71%, 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 $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,224 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% 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 Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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.