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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $604 in Kisumu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $955 in Kisumu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,305 in Kisumu, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 133% more than Kisumu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Kisumu is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$4.76 KES 615
-27.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$23.41 KES 3,025
38.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$6.42 KES 829
-24.61%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.26 KES 292
21.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.56 KES 71.9
146.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.54 KES 70.1
38.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$1.89 KES 244
58.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$2.87 KES 371
34.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$0.51 KES 66.5
241.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$0.53 KES 68.0
364.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.66 KES 215
-29.52%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$1.70 KES 219
42.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$11.51 KES 1,487
25.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$6.94 KES 897
-37.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$5.14 KES 665
133.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$3.15 KES 406
18.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.04 KES 135
56.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$2.07 KES 267
32.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.02 KES 131
119.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.08 KES 140
77.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$0.88 KES 114
159.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.66 KES 84.9
60.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.75 KES 96.6
-4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$3.12 KES 404
5.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$7.72 KES 998
200.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.29 KES 296
21.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.30 KES 297
18.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.75 KES 96.6
-64.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$22.84 KES 2,952
-64.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.58 KES 204
-69.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$1.57 KES 203
-73.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$2.81 KES 364
121.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.52 KES 196
-46.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$22.1K KES 2.9M
20.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$20.3K KES 2.6M
58.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$34.40 KES 4,446
127.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$16.99 KES 2,195
-76.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$39.89 KES 5,155
-39.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$23.55 KES 3,043
318.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$6.09 KES 787
-34.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$115 KES 14.9K
164.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$8,154 KES 1.1M
-18.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$11.50 KES 1,486
370.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$19.04 KES 2,461
98.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$15.22 KES 1,967
470.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$15.75 KES 2,035
384.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$138 KES 17.8K
619.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$109 KES 14.0K
519.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$353 KES 45.7K
855.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$213 KES 27.5K
863.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$772 KES 99.7K
263.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kisumu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$781 KES 100.9K
-78.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
12
10.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kisumu: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $138 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 368% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $23.00 in Kisumu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $192 – 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 133% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $906 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 55% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $23.00 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 $604, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $604 versus $1,408 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.

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