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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $647 in Kisumu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $976 in Kisumu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,306 in Kisumu, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 116% more than Kisumu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Kisumu is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
$3.79 KES 490
-11.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 680.3K
$25.57 KES 3,308
50.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
$6.07 KES 785
-9.06%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
$2.62 KES 339
0.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
$0.56 KES 72.2
198.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$0.52 KES 67.0
48.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
$1.96 KES 253
34.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$2.63 KES 340
62.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$0.53 KES 67.9
192.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
$0.56 KES 71.9
296.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
$1.87 KES 242
-39.57%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
$1.64 KES 212
27.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 306.6K
$10.44 KES 1,351
66.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
$6.23 KES 806
-37.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.2K
$4.90 KES 633
156.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
$3.36 KES 434
7.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$0.94 KES 122
65.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
$2.06 KES 266
14.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
$1.11 KES 144
85.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
$1.06 KES 137
79.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$0.89 KES 115
162.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$0.68 KES 87.8
51.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,779
$0.76 KES 98.5
-27.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
$3.16 KES 409
-28.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 419.7K
$7.49 KES 969
217.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
$2.20 KES 284
5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
$2.34 KES 303
19.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,802
$0.80 KES 103
-66.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
$22.92 KES 2,964
-62.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,489
$1.58 KES 205
-69.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$1.50 KES 194
-70.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
$2.86 KES 370
100.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.58 KES 205
-51.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 431.6M
$20.1K KES 2.6M
21.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 566.3M
$19.9K KES 2.6M
61.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$59.9 KES 7,741
39.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
$15.04 KES 1,945
-57.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 334.8K
$35.28 KES 4,563
-46.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 986.8K
$23.27 KES 3,010
140.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 328.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$7.81 KES 1,010
-45.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$116 KES 15.0K
320.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.2M
$11.4K KES 1.5M
-48.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 803.2K
$11.43 KES 1,478
298.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 641.4K
$19.11 KES 2,472
90.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$15.76 KES 2,038
420.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$15.30 KES 1,979
425.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$157 KES 20.3K
612.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$141 KES 18.2K
397.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
$568 KES 73.5K
522.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
$217 KES 28.0K
713.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
$787 KES 101.8K
258.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$780 KES 100.9K
-78.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
14.71
-6.32%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kisumu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $157 in Kisumu. 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 360% higher in Kisumu, 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $26.00 in Kisumu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $186 – making Kisumu 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
Ubud, Bali vs Kisumu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Kisumu?
Ubud, Bali costs about 116% more than Kisumu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Kisumu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $971 in Kisumu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Kisumu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kisumu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Kisumu?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kisumu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $26.00 in Kisumu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Kisumu?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kisumu, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Kisumu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Kisumu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kisumu costs $647 versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Kisumu?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Kisumu?
If budget matters most, go with Kisumu. 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities