Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamako and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Bamako: $899 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bamako
🇲🇱 Mali
$899
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bamako and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bamako and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $899 in Bamako versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Bamako $899
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,467 in Bamako versus $2,297 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Bamako $1,467
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,034 in Bamako versus $3,241 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Bamako $2,034
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Living in Bamako costs roughly 34% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

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
$8.65 F CFA 5,042
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
167.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.32 F CFA 20.6K
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
1.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.02 F CFA 4,678
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
40.70%
Cappuccino
$1.66 F CFA 967
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
-36.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 F CFA 567
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
-43.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 F CFA 405
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-14.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 F CFA 1,376
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
-10.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$21.09 F CFA 12.3K
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
382.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 F CFA 1,120
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
22.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 F CFA 2,218
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
73.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-
Eggs
$6.07 F CFA 3,537
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
181.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.47 F CFA 10.2K
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-1.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.92 F CFA 9,284
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
321.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.59 F CFA 7,342
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
5.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 F CFA 2,397
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
14.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 F CFA 595
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-35.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 F CFA 1,689
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
25.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 F CFA 1,204
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
8.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 F CFA 728
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-29.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 F CFA 664
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-51.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.09 F CFA 51.0
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
-91.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 F CFA 1,633
$0.53 Rp 9,509
428.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 F CFA 916
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-33.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 F CFA 973
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-43.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.23 Rp 4,112
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.47 Rp 8,466
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 F CFA 729
$0.43 Rp 7,737
190.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 F CFA 655
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
34.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 F CFA 88.5K
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
89.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1 F CFA 38.6K
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
255.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.6 F CFA 40.6K
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
28.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$493 Rp 8.9M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$176 F CFA 102.4K
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
-84.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$80.4 F CFA 46.9K
$673 Rp 12.1M
-88.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 F CFA 293.1K
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-86.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 F CFA 176.2K
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
-82.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,258 F CFA 733.7K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-43.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamako
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$266 F CFA 155.2K
$166 Rp 3.0M
60.00%
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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bamako
$351 *
Ubud, Bali
$287 18.2% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamako
$218 *
Ubud, Bali
$105 51.7% $113
Eating Out
Bamako
$174
Ubud, Bali
$106 38.8% $67
Accommodation & Living
Bamako
$80
Ubud, Bali
$673 737% $593
Sport & Entertainment
Bamako
$70 *
Ubud, Bali
$63 10% $6.9
Getting Around
Bamako
$6.3 *
Ubud, Bali
$12 98.9% $6.2
Clothing & Footwear
Bamako
- *
Ubud, Bali
$107

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $176 in Bamako and $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bamako pays 60% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Bamako vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $287, with Ubud, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇱 Bamako
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
14:20 2:20 PM
22:20 10:20 PM
8 h ahead of Bamako
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,809,106 Capital
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to XOF – West African CFA Franc Converter

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 583 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bamako Ubud, Bali 13,810 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bamako
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 60% 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: $176 in Bamako versus $1,131 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 $899 per month in Bamako versus $1,353 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 22% 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 $899 in Bamako versus $1,353 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 $899 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.

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