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