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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $348 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $571 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $794 in Malindi, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 303% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Malindi is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$2.12 KES 274

68.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$30.55 KES 3,962

6.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.60 KES 207

-17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.91 KES 119

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$3.57 KES 463

-18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$3.56 KES 461

6.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.97 KES 126

76.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.27 KES 164

-5.51%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.92 KES 379

-16.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$11.84 KES 1,535

21.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$6.05 KES 785

-28.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$5.11 KES 662

138.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$3.03 KES 393

21.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.78 KES 101

98.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.67 KES 347

4.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.67 KES 87.3

247.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.75 KES 97.4

162.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.70 KES 91.0

230.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.48 KES 62.0

52.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.36 KES 176

-37.50%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$76.8 KES 9,957

5.14%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$30.80 KES 3,993

-20.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$38.73 KES 5,021

152.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$392 KES 50.8K

759.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $31.00 in Malindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $151 – making Malindi 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 Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 303% more than Malindi, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $522 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $348 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 97% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malindi, where all-in costs run around $348, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Malindi 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. Malindi costs $348 versus $1,404 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 Malindi. 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.