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 $350 per month in Malindi vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Malindi vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $796 per month in Malindi vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Malindi is about 76% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malindi sits 74% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 KES 277

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

-40.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 KES 4,035

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

-4.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

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

$1.59 KES 205

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

18.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 KES 117

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 KES 452

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

17.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 458

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

-7.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

-43.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 KES 156

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

1.68%

Eggs

$2.99 KES 387

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

23.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 KES 1,473

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

-22.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 KES 801

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

48.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 KES 638

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

-58.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 408

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

-14.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-51.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-2.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.3

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-69.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

-60.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

-67.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.9

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

69.05%

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

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

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

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

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

$77.1 KES 9,959

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-1.73%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.93 KES 3,997

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

26.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 KES 4,961

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-60.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-88.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 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 311% 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 $525 per month in Malindi and $2,158 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 $350 in Malindi and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 97% 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 $350, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $350 versus $1,438 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.