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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Malindi vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Malindi vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $829 per month in Malindi vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Malindi is about 74% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malindi sits 73% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

-40.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

-3.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

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

$1.53 KES 198

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

21.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

20.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

-13.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

-44.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

9.57%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

20.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

-20.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

44.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

-57.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

-16.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

-51.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

-5.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

-68.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

-62.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

-68.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-34.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

-67.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,821

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,180

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

59.30%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

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

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

-0.76%

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

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

30.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-61.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

-89.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $298 – making Malindi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 282% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $546 per month in Malindi and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $364 in Malindi and $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malindi, where all-in costs run around $364, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Malindi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malindi costs $364 versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Malindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.