Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Mombasa: $719 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mombasa
🇰🇪 Kenya
$719
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mombasa and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mombasa and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $719 per month in Mombasa vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Mombasa $719
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

A couple spends around $1,147 per month in Mombasa vs $2,314 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Mombasa $1,147
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

A family of three spends $1,575 per month in Mombasa vs $3,260 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Mombasa $1,575
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Mombasa is about 47% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Mombasa sits 47% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66 KES 345
$3.33 Rp 59.8K
-20.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.34 KES 3,285
$35.18 Rp 631.2K
-27.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.48 KES 1,359
$5.80 Rp 104.1K
80.69%
Cappuccino
$2.74 KES 355
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
0.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 KES 88.0
$1.64 Rp 29.4K
-58.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 KES 67.7
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
-37.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 KES 303
$2.70 Rp 48.4K
-13.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 KES 428
$4.30 Rp 77.1K
-23.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 KES 130
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 KES 65.6
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
-77.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 KES 201
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
31.36%
Eggs
$1.82 KES 236
$2.14 Rp 38.5K
-14.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.91 KES 1,803
$17.48 Rp 313.6K
-20.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.00 KES 648
$4.03 Rp 72.3K
24.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.25 KES 681
$12.23 Rp 219.4K
-57.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 KES 272
$3.55 Rp 63.7K
-40.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 KES 150
$1.57 Rp 28.2K
-26.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 KES 228
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
-21.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 KES 90.9
$1.93 Rp 34.6K
-63.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 KES 93.8
$1.88 Rp 33.8K
-61.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 KES 130
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-55.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 KES 78.4
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
-39.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 KES 55.6
$0.53 Rp 9,445
-18.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 KES 518
$2.28 Rp 41.0K
75.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.56 KES 1,239
$23.01 Rp 412.9K
-58.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 KES 258
$2.34 Rp 42.0K
-14.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 KES 365
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-3.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 KES 104
$0.24 Rp 4,301
233.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.84 KES 5,035
$8.82 Rp 158.2K
340.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 KES 410
$0.48 Rp 8,657
558.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 KES 227
$0.46 Rp 8,207
280.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.65 KES 603
$5.45 Rp 97.9K
-14.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 KES 202
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
77.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K KES 1.6M
$24.6K Rp 440.8M
-50.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.8K KES 1.5M
$31.2K Rp 559.6M
-62.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.9 KES 9,975
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-7.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.14 KES 1,184
$6.45 Rp 115.7K
41.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.48 KES 4,470
$18.57 Rp 333.1K
85.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.18 KES 2,357
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-67.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.93 KES 2,454
$18.11 Rp 324.9K
4.53%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 KES 2,027
$4.38 Rp 78.6K
256.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$86.4 KES 11.2K
$493 Rp 8.8M
-82.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,415 KES 702.1K
$5,754 Rp 103.2M
-5.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.05 KES 1,692
$46.19 Rp 828.8K
-71.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.77 KES 1,785
$35.33 Rp 634.0K
-61.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$23.30 KES 3,021
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-70.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.20 KES 5,990
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-41.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$227 KES 29.5K
$1,142 Rp 20.5M
-80.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 KES 20.4K
$676 Rp 12.1M
-76.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 KES 70.0K
$3,503 Rp 62.9M
-84.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 KES 48.3K
$1,700 Rp 30.5M
-78.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,411 KES 701.6K
$2,784 Rp 50.0M
94.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,884 KES 503.6K
$2,241 Rp 40.2M
73.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mombasa
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$313 KES 40.5K
$165 Rp 3.0M
89.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
13.78
-5.66%

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

Last update for Mombasa: October 10, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mombasa
$185
Ubud, Bali
$290 56.6% $105
Accommodation & Living
Mombasa
$157
Ubud, Bali
$676 330% $519
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mombasa
$121
Ubud, Bali
$108 10.4% $13
Eating Out
Mombasa
$109
Ubud, Bali
$109 0.1% $0.1
Getting Around
Mombasa
$54
Ubud, Bali
$13 76.7% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Mombasa
$49
Ubud, Bali
$65 30.6% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Mombasa
$43
Ubud, Bali
$108 148% $64

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $227 in Mombasa versus $1,142 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 90% 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 $25.00 in Mombasa versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $290 – making Mombasa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Mombasa
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
14:48 2:48 PM
19:48 7:48 PM
5 h ahead of Mombasa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,300,000
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 146 KES (1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 17,943 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.57 USD). 1 EUR = 20,174 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.96 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mombasa Ubud, Bali 8,360 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mombasa
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How do living costs in Mombasa and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $719 in Mombasa, $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 90% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Mombasa compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,078 per month in Mombasa and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mombasa and Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Mombasa and $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mombasa or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $719 in Mombasa and $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. That's a gap of about 90%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mombasa, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Mombasa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mombasa and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Mombasa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $719 in Mombasa to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mombasa or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mombasa and Ubud, Bali?
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.

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