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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $189 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $293 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $397 in Mwanza, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 637% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Mwanza is 86% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$2.39 TZS 6,275

41.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

153.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$4.55 TZS 12.0K

21.32%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$2.67 TZS 7,007

-1.12%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.27 TZS 708

185.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$0.98 TZS 2,588

168.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$1.34 TZS 3,530

219.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$0.91 TZS 2,388

70.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$1.48 TZS 3,889

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$0.96 TZS 2,530

17.71%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$2.13 TZS 5,609

-1.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$0.95 TZS 2,500

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.29 TZS 3,402

81.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,780

$0.36 TZS 959

52.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,802

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,864

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.58 TZS 4,154

-51.90%

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

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

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

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$67.0 TZS 176.2K

24.70%

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

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 986.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

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

$190 TZS 500.4K

-10.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 12% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Mwanza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $46.00 – making Mwanza 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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 637%, 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 $284 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 535% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 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 $189, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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.