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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $431 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $664 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $898 in Mbeya, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 224% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Mbeya is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

69.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

-26.50%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$1.47 TZS 3,863

79.59%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$0.36 TZS 956

363.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.40 TZS 1,045

92.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

$0.73 TZS 1,918

260.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$0.55 TZS 1,437

181.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$0.91 TZS 2,386

143.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$0.92 TZS 2,420

22.83%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$2.28 TZS 5,995

-8.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

$3.74 TZS 9,830

364.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

$3.78 TZS 9,951

2.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

$3.44 TZS 9,038

264.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

$1.15 TZS 3,026

214.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$0.78 TZS 2,038

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$0.96 TZS 2,526

144.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$0.72 TZS 1,892

186.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$0.92 TZS 2,415

106.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

$0.77 TZS 2,035

203.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$0.55 TZS 1,451

87.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

$0.77 TZS 2,035

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$1.10 TZS 2,890

104.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

520.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

$0.74 TZS 1,943

212.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

$1.11 TZS 2,917

152.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

$0.39 TZS 1,036

-30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

$1.11 TZS 2,916

-56.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$1.87 TZS 4,908

-75.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

$2.67 TZS 7,031

114.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.19 TZS 3,133

-36.13%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

252.09%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

-65.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

-57.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

48.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

-54.76%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$185 TZS 486.7K

162.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

416.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

300.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

282.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

329.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

201.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$112 TZS 293.7K

899.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

823.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

$188 TZS 493.6K

1783.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

$112 TZS 294.3K

1474.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$192 TZS 504.5K

-11.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $112 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $115 – 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 224%, 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 $646 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $431 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $185 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 $431, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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.