🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $891 in Bamako versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,471 in Bamako versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,051 in Bamako versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Bamako costs roughly 37% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bamako is 34% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.82F CFA 3,879
$3.57Rp 64.8K
91.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.70F CFA 21.4K
$32.50Rp 590.5K
16.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.26F CFA 3,561
$4.86Rp 88.4K
28.81%
Cappuccino
$1.90F CFA 1,081
$2.75Rp 49.9K
-30.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75F CFA 424
$1.32Rp 24.0K
-43.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59F CFA 337
$0.70Rp 12.8K
-15.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41F CFA 1,367
$2.91Rp 52.9K
-17.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$21.40F CFA 12.2K
$3.79Rp 68.9K
464.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29F CFA 1,301
$1.71Rp 31.1K
33.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.89F CFA 2,212
$2.47Rp 45.0K
57.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.20Rp 21.8K
-
Eggs
$6.72F CFA 3,819
$2.44Rp 44.4K
175.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.94F CFA 10.2K
$14.38Rp 261.3K
24.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.88F CFA 9,027
$4.31Rp 78.2K
268.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.33F CFA 7,007
$12.21Rp 221.8K
0.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97F CFA 2,258
$3.68Rp 66.9K
7.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02F CFA 582
$1.55Rp 28.2K
-34.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89F CFA 1,643
$2.79Rp 50.6K
3.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15F CFA 1,220
$2.33Rp 42.4K
-7.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34F CFA 764
$1.97Rp 35.8K
-31.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36F CFA 775
$2.31Rp 42.0K
-41.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.10F CFA 58.4
$1.06Rp 19.3K
-90.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77F CFA 1,573
$0.73Rp 13.2K
279.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.94F CFA 536
$3.28Rp 59.6K
-71.34%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$22.79Rp 414.1K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51F CFA 860
$2.81Rp 51.0K
-46.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61F CFA 916
$2.78Rp 50.5K
-42.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.63F CFA 2,630
$0.29Rp 5,290
1496.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45Rp 8,159
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27F CFA 720
$0.45Rp 8,207
182.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.24Rp 113.3K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16F CFA 659
$0.85Rp 15.4K
36.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.0KRp 471.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.7KRp 575.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151F CFA 85.9K
$80.8Rp 1.5M
87.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$4.06Rp 73.7K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1F CFA 32.5K
$24.42Rp 443.7K
133.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.0F CFA 38.7K
$97.7Rp 1.8M
-30.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.15F CFA 2,360
$6.45Rp 117.1K
-35.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.70F CFA 3,242
$4.04Rp 73.4K
41.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$304Rp 5.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,621Rp 120.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.2Rp 985.2K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.78Rp 704.4K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.1Rp 1.6M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$173F CFA 98.3K
$986Rp 17.9M
-82.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$81.6F CFA 46.4K
$658Rp 12.0M
-87.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$398F CFA 226.2K
$3,369Rp 61.2M
-88.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294F CFA 167.2K
$2,066Rp 37.5M
-85.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,252F CFA 711.6K
$2,228Rp 40.5M
-43.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$260F CFA 147.8K
$163Rp 3.0M
59.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bamako: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $173 in Bamako and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bamako pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Bamako vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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
Bamako vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bamako or Ubud, Bali?
Bamako wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bamako the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bamako or Ubud, Bali?
Bamako pays 59% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bamako vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $173 in Bamako versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bamako compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $891 per month in Bamako versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Bamako or Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bamako or Ubud, Bali?
At $891 in Bamako versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bamako but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bamako the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bamako or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bamako delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $891 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bamako hard to pass up.
How safe is Bamako compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Bamako and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bamako gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.