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: $527 in Isiolo versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $876 in Isiolo versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,226 in Isiolo versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 62% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Isiolo is 62% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 KES 718
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
67.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.56 KES 4,472
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
-11.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.30 KES 816
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
12.10%
Cappuccino
$2.80 KES 363
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 KES 81.8
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
-60.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 67.9
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
-25.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 KES 296
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
-16.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 KES 347
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
-37.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 KES 110
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
-44.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 KES 73.0
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
-75.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 KES 239
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
78.64%
Eggs
$1.65 KES 213
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
-22.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.66 KES 1,380
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
-38.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 KES 857
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
64.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.33 KES 819
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
-49.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 KES 409
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
-14.59%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 KES 128
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-38.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 KES 255
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
-13.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 KES 131
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
-48.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 KES 130
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
-45.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 KES 123
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
-57.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 KES 84.9
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
-36.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 KES 93.3
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 KES 444
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
54.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.57 KES 1,498
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
-50.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 KES 297
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
-4.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 KES 364
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
-2.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,416
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 KES 198
$0.46 Rp 8,163
232.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 KES 204
$0.46 Rp 8,235
243.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 KES 373
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
-49.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 KES 180
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
82.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K KES 2.4M
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
-24.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K KES 2.5M
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
-37.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.7 KES 7,213
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
-32.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.51 KES 2,007
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
145.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.29 KES 4,437
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
84.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.87 KES 1,018
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
84.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 KES 31.1K
$489 Rp 8.7M
-50.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K KES 1.4M
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
89.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.64 KES 3,447
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
-42.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.38 KES 3,285
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
-29.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.1 KES 8,167
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
-20.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.8 KES 7,736
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
-26.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$692 Rp 12.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isiolo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$760 KES 98.3K
$169 Rp 3.0M
348.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
13.78
6.75%

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

Last update for Isiolo: August 18, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 349% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Isiolo vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $293 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 162% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 349% higher in Isiolo, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% 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 $527 per month in Isiolo versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 162% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $527 in Isiolo versus $1,379 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 $527 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 162% 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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