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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Nairobi vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Nairobi vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,832 per month in Nairobi vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Nairobi is about 46% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nairobi sits 43% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.55 KES 717

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

60.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.48 KES 4,973

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

18.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 KES 858

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

37.19%

Cappuccino

$2.49 KES 322

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

-9.45%

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

$0.70 KES 91.1

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

-49.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 KES 306

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

-21.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 366

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

-26.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

-50.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.6

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

-77.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 KES 207

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

36.75%

Eggs

$1.68 KES 216

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

-30.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 KES 1,513

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

-19.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 KES 894

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

58.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 KES 729

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

-52.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 KES 398

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

-17.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-34.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 KES 266

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

-24.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

-53.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

-44.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 149

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

-49.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.5

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-38.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

-3.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 KES 1,524

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

-49.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 285

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-20.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 365

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

3.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.4

$0.27 Rp 4,786

177.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.90 KES 3,993

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

281.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

$0.48 Rp 8,675

218.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 193

$0.42 Rp 7,545

257.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

-52.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

88.89%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

-17.04%

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

-38.60%

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

$33.74 KES 4,360

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-56.94%

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

$16.72 KES 2,160

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

310.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.94 KES 5,032

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

60.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.13 KES 5,574

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-56.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 KES 2,665

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

225.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 KES 822

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

59.40%

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

$205 KES 26.5K

$305 Rp 5.5M

-32.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,113 KES 1.0M

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

22.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.49 KES 2,389

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

-65.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.69 KES 3,062

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

-37.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 KES 8,310

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-25.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,185

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-27.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 KES 56.7K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-55.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 KES 24.1K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-72.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 KES 147.5K

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

-66.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 KES 55.8K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-78.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 KES 197.2K

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

-45.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$909 KES 117.5K

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

-59.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 KES 55.7K

$167 Rp 3.0M

158.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

13.28

11.75%

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

Last update for Nairobi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Nairobi 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 158% higher in Nairobi, 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 $38.00 in Nairobi versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Nairobi vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – so Nairobi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 84% more than Nairobi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,147 per month in Nairobi 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 Nairobi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 281% less in Nairobi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $205 per month in Nairobi and $305 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nairobi, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Nairobi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nairobi costs $765 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Nairobi. 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.