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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $442 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $896 in Mbeya, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 218% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Mbeya is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

38.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

-38.42%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.59 TZS 4,166

72.96%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.37 TZS 975

272.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.40 TZS 1,051

87.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$0.76 TZS 1,988

293.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$0.56 TZS 1,459

210.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$0.94 TZS 2,478

161.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.93 TZS 2,452

25.81%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$2.36 TZS 6,192

2.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$3.77 TZS 9,894

284.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$3.78 TZS 9,913

15.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$3.51 TZS 9,201

241.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$1.19 TZS 3,118

212.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.75 TZS 1,980

117.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$0.94 TZS 2,475

191.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$0.81 TZS 2,120

176.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$1.01 TZS 2,640

90.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$0.75 TZS 1,959

204.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.56 TZS 1,477

89.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.76 TZS 1,983

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$1.18 TZS 3,108

178.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

497.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$0.80 TZS 2,086

247.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$1.15 TZS 3,005

137.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.41 TZS 1,074

-34.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$1.13 TZS 2,966

-57.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$1.70 TZS 4,470

-75.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$2.78 TZS 7,289

123.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.26 TZS 3,318

-35.71%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

212.90%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

-79.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

-47.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

159.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

-59.53%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$194 TZS 508.6K

57.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

479.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

372.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

283.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

342.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

178.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$117 TZS 306.4K

749.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

778.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$193 TZS 505.6K

1651.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$117 TZS 307.1K

1651.55%

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

$188 TZS 494.0K

-11.31%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $117 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 13% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $117 – 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 218%, 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 $663 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $442 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $194 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 $442, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.