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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $604 in Mombasa, rent included.

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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 135% more than Mombasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.37 KES 308

50.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$19.29 KES 2,498

69.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$8.53 KES 1,106

-41.97%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$3.25 KES 421

-16.62%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.51 KES 66.3

162.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.47 KES 61.2

48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.90 KES 246

53.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.93 KES 380

35.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.81 KES 104

123.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.53 KES 69.3

375.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.44 KES 187

-19.44%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.73 KES 223

42.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$9.96 KES 1,291

47.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$5.82 KES 754

-25.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$5.24 KES 679

131.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.81 KES 234

112.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.93 KES 121

67.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.56 KES 202

81.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$0.76 KES 98.2

206.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.71 KES 92.4

169.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.05 KES 136

109.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.67 KES 86.9

50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.57 KES 74.0

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$3.32 KES 430

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$7.90 KES 1,023

200.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.94 KES 252

43.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$2.73 KES 354

4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.79 KES 103

-65.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$35.09 KES 4,546

-77.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$3.02 KES 391

-84.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.95 KES 252

-76.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$4.61 KES 597

32.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.60 KES 208

-50.63%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

116.39%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

172.51%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$44.87 KES 5,813

78.16%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$14.07 KES 1,822

-71.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$44.11 KES 5,715

-46.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$18.18 KES 2,356

442.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$18.95 KES 2,455

-65.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$4.55 KES 589

-8.79%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$87.3 KES 11.3K

248.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$5,325 KES 689.9K

24.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$13.39 KES 1,734

314.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$13.83 KES 1,792

177.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$23.61 KES 3,059

275.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.29 KES 6,126

64.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$178 KES 23.0K

465.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$115 KES 14.9K

486.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$605 KES 78.4K

468.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$465 KES 60.2K

338.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$5,402 KES 699.9K

-47.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$3,839 KES 497.3K

-41.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$318 KES 41.2K

-47.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

2.15%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $178 in Mombasa. 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Mombasa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $170 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $604 in Mombasa – roughly 135% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $907 in Mombasa. 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Mombasa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $604 in Mombasa. 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. Ubud, Bali 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.