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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $689 per month in Mombasa vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Mombasa vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,534 per month in Mombasa vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mombasa is about 51% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mombasa sits 50% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 KES 298

$3.37 Rp 59.8K

-31.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.05 KES 2,981

$38.59 Rp 683.8K

-40.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.61 KES 1,372

$5.52 Rp 97.8K

92.21%

Cappuccino

$3.60 KES 466

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

36.36%

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

$1.00 KES 130

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

-40.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.7

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 KES 292

$2.63 Rp 46.7K

-14.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KES 417

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

-24.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 121

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

-39.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.8

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

-77.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

39.82%

Eggs

$1.82 KES 235

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

-12.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 KES 1,415

$17.39 Rp 308.2K

-37.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 KES 704

$3.87 Rp 68.5K

40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.34 KES 691

$12.55 Rp 222.4K

-57.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 KES 271

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

-41.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 KES 148

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

-26.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 231

$2.35 Rp 41.7K

-23.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 KES 84.1

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-68.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.7

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-62.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$2.34 Rp 41.4K

-55.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 KES 73.4

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

-44.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KES 59.3

$0.55 Rp 9,830

-16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 KES 583

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

100.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 KES 984

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

-68.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 KES 258

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

-13.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 KES 372

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

2.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.0

$0.27 Rp 4,827

181.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.00 KES 4,914

$8.66 Rp 153.5K

338.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 KES 389

$0.48 Rp 8,533

527.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 KES 221

$0.45 Rp 7,904

280.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 KES 587

$5.72 Rp 101.4K

-20.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

105.26%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$24.5K Rp 433.9M

-50.66%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$32.1K Rp 569.3M

-63.35%

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

$55.1 KES 7,124

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-34.06%

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

$13.42 KES 1,735

$6.46 Rp 114.4K

107.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 KES 4,386

$18.99 Rp 336.6K

78.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.20 KES 2,354

$56.0 Rp 992.0K

-67.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,450

$18.62 Rp 329.9K

1.77%

Cinema Ticket

$11.00 KES 1,422

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

157.01%

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-81.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,514 KES 713.0K

$5,856 Rp 103.8M

-5.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,685

$45.56 Rp 807.4K

-71.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.50 KES 1,745

$36.38 Rp 644.7K

-62.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.12 KES 2,989

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-71.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.53 KES 5,887

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-43.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.6K

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-79.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-78.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 KES 69.5K

$3,537 Rp 62.7M

-84.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 KES 50.2K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-77.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,396 KES 697.7K

$2,826 Rp 50.1M

90.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,931 KES 508.3K

$2,292 Rp 40.6M

71.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

$170 Rp 3.0M

88.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-5.66%

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

Last update for Mombasa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Mombasa versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 89% higher in Mombasa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mombasa versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $293 – making Mombasa 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $689 in Mombasa, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 103% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,033 per month in Mombasa and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mombasa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mombasa and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $689 in Mombasa and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mombasa, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Mombasa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mombasa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $689 in Mombasa to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Mombasa. 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.