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