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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $581 in Zanzibar versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $872 in Zanzibar versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,163 in Zanzibar versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Zanzibar costs roughly 58% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zanzibar is 58% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

39.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

-43.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

-19.32%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-62.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-59.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

-26.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

-39.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

33.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-66.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

-23.89%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

28.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

-55.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

-41.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

-51.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-19.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-28.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

-68.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-71.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-48.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-33.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-28.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.55 Rp 9,809

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

-3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-59.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

-32.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

-51.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.27 Rp 4,816

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

$0.48 Rp 8,515

693.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.45 Rp 7,887

64.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

-54.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

52.63%

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)

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

53.07%

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-11.75%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

78.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

156.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

-46.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

125.70%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

-71.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

-53.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

-81.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-83.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-86.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-85.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-94.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-91.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

1227.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

404.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

$170 Rp 3.0M

83.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-27.43%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in Zanzibar and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanzibar pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Zanzibar vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $293 per month, with Zanzibar cheaper across the board.

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

Zanzibar vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zanzibar wins on cost – living expenses run 140% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zanzibar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 84% higher in Zanzibar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $150 in Zanzibar versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $581 per month in Zanzibar versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 140% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $581 in Zanzibar versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zanzibar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zanzibar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Zanzibar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $581 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zanzibar hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Zanzibar and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zanzibar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.