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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $621 in Mogadishu versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Mogadishu versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,274 in Mogadishu versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mogadishu costs roughly 56% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mogadishu is 55% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 SOS 1,671
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
-12.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.31 SOS 19.5K
$38.59 Rp 680.3K
-11.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.41 SOS 2,504
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
-20.11%
Cappuccino
$2.02 SOS 1,148
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
-23.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 SOS 678
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
-28.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 SOS 285
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-35.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 SOS 746
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
-15.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 SOS 894
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
-29.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 SOS 431
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
-32.74%
Eggs
$1.94 SOS 1,103
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
-7.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.94 SOS 2,805
$17.39 Rp 306.6K
-71.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.93 SOS 2,233
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
1.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.54 SOS 2,576
$12.55 Rp 221.2K
-63.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 SOS 2,188
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
6.35%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 SOS 561
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
-36.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 SOS 1,748
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
31.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 SOS 712
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
-39.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 SOS 828
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
-23.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 SOS 1,009
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-23.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 SOS 877
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
49.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 SOS 287
$0.55 Rp 9,779
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.81 Rp 419.7K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 SOS 1,119
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
-14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 SOS 274
$0.27 Rp 4,802
77.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 SOS 555
$0.48 Rp 8,489
104.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 SOS 305
$0.45 Rp 7,863
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 SOS 1,667
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
-48.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 SOS 522
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$24.5K Rp 431.6M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$6,464 SOS 3.7M
$32.1K Rp 566.3M
-79.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 SOS 89.1K
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
87.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02 SOS 2,849
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
-22.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 SOS 37.7K
$18.99 Rp 334.8K
249.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.89 SOS 18.1K
$56.0 Rp 986.8K
-43.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62 Rp 328.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$78.6 SOS 44.7K
$487 Rp 8.6M
-83.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$751 SOS 426.6K
$5,856 Rp 103.2M
-87.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.26 SOS 8,102
$45.56 Rp 803.2K
-68.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.25 SOS 8,096
$36.38 Rp 641.4K
-60.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$25.29 SOS 14.4K
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
-69.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.84 SOS 18.7K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-59.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 SOS 109.6K
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-82.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.9 SOS 44.8K
$701 Rp 12.4M
-88.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 SOS 274.7K
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
-86.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 SOS 107.4K
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
-89.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,230 SOS 1.8M
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
14.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,437 SOS 1.4M
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
6.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mogadishu
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$275 SOS 156.3K
$170 Rp 3.0M
62.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.78
-

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

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Mogadishu and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mogadishu pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Mogadishu vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $293 per month, with Mogadishu 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
Mogadishu vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mogadishu or Ubud, Bali?
Mogadishu wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mogadishu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mogadishu or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 62% higher in Mogadishu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mogadishu compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $193 in Mogadishu versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mogadishu and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $78.6 in Mogadishu versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mogadishu and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Mogadishu – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mogadishu or in Ubud, Bali?
At $621 in Mogadishu versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mogadishu but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mogadishu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mogadishu or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mogadishu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $621 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mogadishu hard to pass up.
How safe is Mogadishu compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mogadishu 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 Mogadishu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% 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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