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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $432 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $905 in Mbeya, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 228% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Mbeya is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

40.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

-37.66%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.58 TZS 4,065

71.52%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.41 TZS 1,054

226.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.41 TZS 1,048

70.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$0.73 TZS 1,896

300.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.55 TZS 1,426

229.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.99 TZS 2,555

154.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.00 TZS 2,576

16.00%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.28 TZS 5,881

7.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

275.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$3.81 TZS 9,832

13.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$3.53 TZS 9,101

243.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.15 TZS 2,959

233.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.79 TZS 2,048

97.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$0.96 TZS 2,464

194.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$0.74 TZS 1,908

214.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.95 TZS 2,461

101.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.81 TZS 2,076

171.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.55 TZS 1,430

83.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.75 TZS 1,922

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$1.19 TZS 3,078

178.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

510.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$0.80 TZS 2,075

248.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.17 TZS 3,023

144.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.37 TZS 962

-27.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.19 TZS 3,059

-61.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.76 TZS 4,540

-74.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$2.76 TZS 7,108

121.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-37.80%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

221.95%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

-79.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

-48.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

155.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

-56.27%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$193 TZS 498.9K

57.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

461.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

385.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

291.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

350.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

185.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$115 TZS 297.1K

773.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

759.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$191 TZS 492.9K

1700.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$114 TZS 295.2K

1682.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$191 TZS 491.4K

-13.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

2.15%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $115 in Mbeya. 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 15% higher in Mbeya, 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 $23.00 in Mbeya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $118 – making Mbeya 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 Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 228%, 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 $649 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $432 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $193 in Mbeya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbeya – 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 Mbeya. 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.