🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $910 in Bamako versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,457 in Bamako versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,003 in Bamako versus $3,275 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 34% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30F CFA 4,680
$3.33Rp 58.7K
149.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.70F CFA 20.1K
$35.82Rp 631.0K
-0.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96F CFA 4,485
$5.63Rp 99.2K
41.39%
Cappuccino
$1.70F CFA 958
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-39.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91F CFA 514
$1.75Rp 30.8K
-48.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71F CFA 399
$0.80Rp 14.0K
-11.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36F CFA 1,329
$3.04Rp 53.6K
-22.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$21.06F CFA 11.9K
$4.30Rp 75.7K
389.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93F CFA 1,085
$1.61Rp 28.3K
19.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.87F CFA 2,181
$2.27Rp 40.0K
70.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.17Rp 20.6K
-
Eggs
$5.89F CFA 3,319
$2.17Rp 38.2K
171.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.51F CFA 9,867
$17.63Rp 310.6K
-0.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.49F CFA 8,729
$4.05Rp 71.4K
282.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70F CFA 7,161
$12.18Rp 214.6K
4.27%
Apples(1kg)
$4.11F CFA 2,316
$3.62Rp 63.7K
13.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08F CFA 607
$1.64Rp 28.8K
-34.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80F CFA 1,578
$2.31Rp 40.6K
21.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04F CFA 1,152
$1.96Rp 34.5K
4.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21F CFA 682
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-34.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17F CFA 662
$2.37Rp 41.8K
-50.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.10F CFA 57.5
$1.05Rp 18.5K
-90.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.68F CFA 1,509
$0.54Rp 9,564
396.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.30Rp 40.6K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.08Rp 406.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50F CFA 844
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-35.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67F CFA 940
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-45.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.25Rp 4,366
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.49Rp 8,635
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26F CFA 709
$0.47Rp 8,352
168.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.60Rp 98.7K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13F CFA 638
$0.81Rp 14.2K
39.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.0KRp 440.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.1KRp 547.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151F CFA 85.3K
$82.7Rp 1.5M
82.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$6.49Rp 114.3K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.7F CFA 37.0K
$18.79Rp 331.0K
249.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.5F CFA 39.8K
$55.2Rp 973.0K
27.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21Rp 320.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$494Rp 8.7M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$46.28Rp 815.2K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.44Rp 641.9K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178F CFA 100.1K
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-84.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.7F CFA 44.9K
$693Rp 12.2M
-88.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500F CFA 281.7K
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-86.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304F CFA 171.4K
$1,712Rp 30.2M
-82.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,227F CFA 691.7K
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-46.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$259F CFA 145.8K
$167Rp 2.9M
54.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bamako: September 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in Bamako and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bamako pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Bamako vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $294, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.
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 51% 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 55% 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: $178 in Bamako versus $1,114 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 $910 per month in Bamako versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 51% 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 18% 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 $910 in Bamako versus $1,378 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 $910 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 51% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.