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 $618 per month in Mombasa vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,060 per month in Mombasa vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,502 per month in Mombasa vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mombasa is about 56% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mombasa sits 54% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 KES 304

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

-31.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 KES 2,478

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

-40.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 KES 1,137

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

81.82%

Cappuccino

$3.18 KES 411

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

15.64%

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

$0.48 KES 62.4

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-65.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

-36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 KES 253

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

-34.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 364

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-26.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 106

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-52.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.9

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-80.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 KES 180

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

19.66%

Eggs

$1.79 KES 231

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

-26.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 KES 1,255

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-33.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 752

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

33.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 KES 675

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

-56.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 KES 231

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

-51.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 KES 117

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-44.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 197

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-44.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

-64.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.5

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-64.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 139

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-52.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.4

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

-37.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 78.0

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 KES 427

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 KES 1,027

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-65.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 242

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-32.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 358

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

1.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$0.27 Rp 4,765

177.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.08 KES 4,532

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

332.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 394

$0.48 Rp 8,636

535.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 KES 251

$0.42 Rp 7,511

361.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 KES 592

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

-26.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

97.53%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

-54.94%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-63.35%

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

$44.61 KES 5,764

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-43.06%

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

$14.45 KES 1,867

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

255.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.55 KES 5,626

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

79.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.09 KES 2,337

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-81.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 KES 2,480

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

202.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 KES 609

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

18.05%

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

$305 Rp 5.5M

-71.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,406 KES 698.5K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

-18.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,684

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-75.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.80 KES 1,784

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

-63.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,050

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-72.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.93 KES 5,934

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-39.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.4K

$992 Rp 17.7M

-81.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

$673 Rp 12.0M

-82.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 KES 76.3K

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-82.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 KES 59.7K

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-77.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,440 KES 702.8K

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

93.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,820 KES 493.6K

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

71.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

$167 Rp 3.0M

92.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-2.11%

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

Last update for Mombasa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $181 in Mombasa versus $992 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 92% 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 $19.00 in Mombasa versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $297 – 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: $618 in Mombasa, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 128% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $928 per month in Mombasa and $2,112 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 $19.00 in Mombasa and $32.00 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 $618 in Mombasa and $1,408 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 $618, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $618 in Mombasa to $1,408 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.