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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $495 in Isiolo versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $814 in Isiolo versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,134 in Isiolo versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 65% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Isiolo is 63% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.57 KES 722
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
56.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.83 KES 3,867
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-8.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.88 KES 503
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
-20.16%
Cappuccino
$2.44 KES 316
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
-11.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 KES 33.49
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-80.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 KES 31.28
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-65.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 KES 293
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-22.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 KES 371
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-24.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 KES 107
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-52.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 KES 53.2
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-83.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 KES 206
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
32.50%
Eggs
$1.43 KES 185
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-41.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.48 KES 1,489
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-20.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.80 KES 881
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
57.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.54 KES 718
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-54.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 KES 407
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-14.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 KES 139
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-30.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 KES 277
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-23.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 KES 132
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-56.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-47.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 KES 152
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-49.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 KES 89.9
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-34.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 KES 97.6
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
2.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 KES 397
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-6.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.39 KES 1,477
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-50.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 KES 287
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-21.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 KES 366
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
1.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 KES 197
$0.45 Rp 8,047
237.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 KES 205
$0.45 Rp 8,094
251.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 KES 371
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-54.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 KES 188
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
70.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K KES 2.8M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-16.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K KES 2.6M
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-35.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.71 KES 4,500
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-57.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86 KES 2,186
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
315.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.74 KES 5,023
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
58.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 KES 781
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
49.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 KES 26.2K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-33.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,080 KES 1.0M
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
22.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.30 KES 2,372
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-66.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.77 KES 3,082
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-38.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.5 KES 8,491
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-23.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.5 KES 7,458
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-24.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$986 Rp 17.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$658 Rp 11.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$776 KES 100.6K
$163 Rp 2.9M
374.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
13.28
11.75%

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

Last update for Isiolo: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 375% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Isiolo vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $297 per month, with Isiolo 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
Isiolo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Isiolo or Ubud, Bali?
Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 184% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Isiolo or Ubud, Bali?
Isiolo pays 375% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Are groceries more expensive in Isiolo or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Isiolo compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $495 per month in Isiolo versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 184% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Isiolo or Ubud, Bali?
At $495 in Isiolo versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Isiolo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Isiolo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Isiolo or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Isiolo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $495 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Isiolo hard to pass up.
How safe is Isiolo compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Isiolo 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Isiolo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 184% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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