🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Bamako versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Bamako versus $2,588 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,087 in Bamako versus $3,778 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Bamako costs roughly 34% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bamako is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52F CFA 3,756
$3.43Rp 61.6K
90.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.86F CFA 21.8K
$31.97Rp 574.4K
18.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38F CFA 3,676
$5.05Rp 90.8K
26.34%
Cappuccino
$1.86F CFA 1,071
$2.71Rp 48.8K
-31.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74F CFA 429
$1.39Rp 25.0K
-46.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57F CFA 326
$0.74Rp 13.3K
-22.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43F CFA 1,398
$2.89Rp 52.0K
-15.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$20.98F CFA 12.1K
$3.79Rp 68.1K
453.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27F CFA 1,310
$1.79Rp 32.2K
26.82%
White Bread(500g)
$3.92F CFA 2,259
$2.51Rp 45.0K
56.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.21Rp 21.8K
-
Eggs
$6.79F CFA 3,914
$2.37Rp 42.5K
186.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.61F CFA 10.1K
$14.43Rp 259.3K
22.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.62F CFA 9,006
$4.15Rp 74.6K
276.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.43F CFA 7,164
$12.11Rp 217.7K
2.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.95F CFA 2,275
$3.77Rp 67.7K
4.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02F CFA 589
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-37.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84F CFA 1,640
$2.71Rp 48.6K
4.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16F CFA 1,246
$2.26Rp 40.5K
-4.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35F CFA 777
$1.93Rp 34.6K
-30.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37F CFA 788
$2.19Rp 39.4K
-37.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.11F CFA 65.7
$1.02Rp 18.3K
-89.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72F CFA 1,571
$0.72Rp 12.9K
277.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.97F CFA 557
$3.18Rp 57.2K
-69.50%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.84Rp 428.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54F CFA 890
$2.77Rp 49.8K
-44.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66F CFA 958
$2.75Rp 49.4K
-39.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.76F CFA 2,746
$0.27Rp 4,802
1662.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.20Rp 147.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.48Rp 8,684
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22F CFA 703
$0.42Rp 7,571
190.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.03Rp 108.3K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15F CFA 662
$0.82Rp 14.7K
40.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.6KRp 477.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.2KRp 578.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150F CFA 86.2K
$78.3Rp 1.4M
91.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$3.91Rp 70.3K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6F CFA 33.2K
$23.91Rp 429.7K
140.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9F CFA 39.2K
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-29.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.99F CFA 2,298
$6.53Rp 117.3K
-38.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74F CFA 3,308
$4.01Rp 72.1K
43.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$303Rp 5.4M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,551Rp 117.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.3Rp 993.9K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.32Rp 688.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$88.5Rp 1.6M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$175F CFA 100.7K
$986Rp 17.7M
-82.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.4F CFA 45.8K
$682Rp 12.3M
-88.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$405F CFA 233.3K
$3,420Rp 61.5M
-88.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295F CFA 170.2K
$2,075Rp 37.3M
-85.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,762Rp 49.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,244F CFA 717.2K
$2,243Rp 40.3M
-44.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$264F CFA 152.5K
$169Rp 3.0M
56.73%
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: July 19, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $175 in Bamako and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bamako pays 57% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $298 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 53% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 57% higher in Bamako, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $175 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 $915 per month in Bamako versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Bamako or in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 19% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $915 in Bamako versus $1,397 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 $915 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 53% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.