Cost of Living Comparison Between Bata and Malabo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bata and Malabo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,654 per month in Bata vs $589 in Malabo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,376 per month in Bata vs $1,225 in Malabo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,098 per month in Bata vs $1,862 in Malabo, rent included.

Bata costs about 181% more than Malabo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bata sits 24% above the global median, while Malabo is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.71 FCFA 9,585

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.3 FCFA 32.3K

$69.9 FCFA 40.1K

-19.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 FCFA 4,978

Cappuccino

$2.71 FCFA 1,554

$5.20 FCFA 2,984

-47.88%

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

$0.98 FCFA 562

$0.90 FCFA 517

8.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 488

$0.91 FCFA 521

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 FCFA 2,001

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 FCFA 2,498

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 FCFA 1,280

$2.84 FCFA 1,628

-21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 FCFA 1,867

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 FCFA 1,432

Eggs

$2.10 FCFA 1,203

$4.11 FCFA 2,358

-48.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.49 FCFA 6,017

$6.80 FCFA 3,901

54.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.98 FCFA 4,001

$6.71 FCFA 3,848

4.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.08 FCFA 5,207

$7.49 FCFA 4,297

21.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 FCFA 4,251

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,019

Oranges (1kg)

$6.93 FCFA 3,973

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 FCFA 2,334

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 FCFA 1,817

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 FCFA 1,731

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 FCFA 520

$0.93 FCFA 531

-2.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 FCFA 1,379

$1.26 FCFA 724

90.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.16 FCFA 2,960

$4.48 FCFA 2,568

15.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.10 FCFA 3,498

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 FCFA 2,032

$1.46 FCFA 838

142.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 FCFA 748

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 FCFA 15.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 FCFA 489

$0.84 FCFA 482

1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 FCFA 445

$0.80 FCFA 459

-2.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 FCFA 5,047

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 FCFA 659

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

$33.5K FCFA 19.2M

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

$29.5K FCFA 16.9M

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

$355 FCFA 203.8K

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

$17.49 FCFA 10.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$200 FCFA 115.0K

$17.52 FCFA 10.0K

1044.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 FCFA 71.0K

$34.61 FCFA 19.8K

257.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.94 FCFA 8,566

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 FCFA 3,177

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$357 FCFA 204.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 FCFA 43.7K

$26.55 FCFA 15.2K

186.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.0 FCFA 44.7K

$134 FCFA 76.6K

-41.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$160 FCFA 92.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 FCFA 91.9K

$89.8 FCFA 51.5K

78.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 FCFA 225.0K

$267 FCFA 152.9K

47.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 FCFA 125.8K

$124 FCFA 70.9K

77.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 FCFA 329.7K

$958 FCFA 549.3K

-39.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 FCFA 198.8K

$520 FCFA 298.4K

-33.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$846 FCFA 485.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$645 FCFA 369.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 FCFA 450.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

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

Last update for Bata: July 13, 2026

Last update for Malabo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Bata versus $267 in Malabo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Bata versus $70.0 in Malabo. Groceries tell a different story – $341 in Bata vs $147 in Malabo – so Malabo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bata vs Malabo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bata costs about 181% more than Malabo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,481 per month in Bata and $883 in Malabo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malabo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,654 in Bata and $589 in Malabo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 131% more in Bata, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malabo, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Bata at $1,654. In Malabo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malabo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Malabo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.