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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $474 in Kiambu versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Kiambu versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,075 in Kiambu versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Kiambu costs roughly 66% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kiambu is 66% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 KES 513

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

19.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.24 KES 4,427

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-4.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 KES 777

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

6.75%

Cappuccino

$2.71 KES 350

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-3.90%

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

$0.55 KES 71.3

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-68.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.7

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 296

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-24.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 KES 344

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-38.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 KES 69.6

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-66.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 65.3

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-77.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 KES 244

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

61.54%

Eggs

$1.42 KES 184

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-34.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 KES 1,363

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-40.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 KES 814

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

55.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 KES 526

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-66.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-10.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-38.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.8

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

-67.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.0

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-69.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 88.4

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-63.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 KES 93.9

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-69.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 KES 38.67

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 KES 52.0

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-25.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 KES 447

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.74 KES 1,518

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-49.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 KES 296

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 354

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-10.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 KES 87.6

$0.25 Rp 4,365

172.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 KES 201

$0.49 Rp 8,631

216.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 KES 48.15

$0.47 Rp 8,349

-21.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

-46.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 KES 204

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

93.83%

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

$20.1K KES 2.6M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-19.62%

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-36.96%

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

$60.0 KES 7,754

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-27.50%

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

$7.74 KES 1,001

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

19.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.57 KES 4,599

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

89.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 KES 759

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

36.51%

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

$243 KES 31.4K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-50.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

93.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.69 KES 3,451

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-42.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 KES 3,343

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-29.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 KES 8,269

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-20.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 KES 7,882

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 KES 15.1K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-89.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 KES 148.6K

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-58.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 KES 15.8K

$167 Rp 2.9M

-26.84%

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 Kiambu: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Kiambu and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ubud, Bali pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Kiambu vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $294 per month, with Kiambu 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

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

Kiambu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 191% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Ubud, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Kiambu versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $243 in Kiambu versus $494 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kiambu – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $474 in Kiambu versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kiambu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kiambu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kiambu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kiambu 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 Kiambu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.