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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $146 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $218 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $290 in Mwanza, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 874% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Mwanza is 89% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.56 TZS 6,605

39.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$15.20 TZS 39.2K

115.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$4.61 TZS 11.9K

7.38%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.65 TZS 6,825

2.26%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.30 TZS 784

346.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.30 TZS 781

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$0.96 TZS 2,471

204.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$1.34 TZS 3,443

195.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

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

$67.5 TZS 174.1K

18.43%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

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

$188 TZS 484.7K

-12.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 14% higher in Mwanza, 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 $15.00 in Mwanza. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 874%, 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 $219 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $146 in Mwanza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $15.00 in Mwanza. 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 Mwanza, where all-in costs run around $146, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Mwanza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – 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 Mwanza. 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.