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 $604 per month in Mombasa vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,064 per month in Mombasa vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,525 per month in Mombasa vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mombasa is about 57% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mombasa sits 55% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 KES 308

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-33.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.29 KES 2,498

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-41.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 KES 1,106

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

72.32%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 421

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

19.93%

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

$0.51 KES 66.3

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-61.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.2

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-32.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-34.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 KES 380

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 KES 104

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-55.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.3

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-78.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 187

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

24.14%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 223

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-29.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 KES 1,291

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-32.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 754

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

34.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 KES 679

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-56.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-52.86%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 KES 121

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-40.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-44.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-67.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-62.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-52.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.9

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-33.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 KES 74.0

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 430

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 KES 1,023

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-66.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 252

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-30.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 103

$0.27 Rp 4,800

192.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,546

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

336.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 391

$0.46 Rp 8,150

556.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 252

$0.45 Rp 8,037

333.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 597

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-24.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 208

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

102.53%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-53.79%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-63.30%

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

$44.87 KES 5,813

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-43.87%

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

$14.07 KES 1,822

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

246.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 KES 5,715

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

87.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 KES 2,356

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-81.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,455

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

185.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 KES 589

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

9.64%

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

$87.3 KES 11.3K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-71.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,325 KES 689.9K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-19.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 KES 1,734

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-75.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.83 KES 1,792

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-63.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,059

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-73.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.29 KES 6,126

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-39.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 KES 23.0K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-82.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-82.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 KES 78.4K

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-82.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.2K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-77.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 699.9K

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

90.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 497.3K

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

69.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 KES 41.2K

$165 Rp 3.0M

92.25%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $178 in Mombasa versus $1,006 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $302 – 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: $604 in Mombasa, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 135% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Mombasa and $2,129 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 $33.00 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 $604 in Mombasa and $1,419 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 $604, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $604 in Mombasa to $1,419 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.