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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Bata vs $688 in Malabo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,157 per month in Bata vs $1,162 in Malabo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,829 per month in Bata vs $1,637 in Malabo, rent included.

Bata costs about 116% more than Malabo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Bata sits 8% above the global median, while Malabo is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.75 FCFA 11.2K

$8.98 FCFA 5,074

119.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.61 FCFA 24.6K

$71.6 FCFA 40.5K

-39.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 FCFA 5,031

Cappuccino

$2.71 FCFA 1,533

$4.83 FCFA 2,729

-43.89%

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

$1.41 FCFA 794

$0.92 FCFA 519

53.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 FCFA 511

$0.43 FCFA 241

109.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 FCFA 1,983

$1.79 FCFA 1,012

96.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 FCFA 2,496

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 FCFA 980

$2.90 FCFA 1,637

-40.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 FCFA 1,792

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 FCFA 877

$1.73 FCFA 979

-10.40%

Eggs

$2.11 FCFA 1,194

$3.94 FCFA 2,227

-46.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 FCFA 6,000

$6.57 FCFA 3,710

61.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.88 FCFA 5,016

$6.20 FCFA 3,503

43.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 FCFA 5,958

$7.30 FCFA 4,123

44.38%

Apples (1kg)

$10.52 FCFA 5,943

$2.41 FCFA 1,363

336.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,019

$1.75 FCFA 987

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.00 FCFA 5,088

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 FCFA 2,007

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 FCFA 1,515

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 FCFA 1,539

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 FCFA 491

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 774

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 FCFA 3,041

$4.65 FCFA 2,626

15.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.15 FCFA 3,475

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.46 FCFA 1,956

$1.40 FCFA 789

147.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 FCFA 528

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 FCFA 1,019

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.19 FCFA 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 FCFA 511

$0.92 FCFA 521

-2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 FCFA 489

$0.87 FCFA 492

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 FCFA 4,998

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 FCFA 641

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

$33.5K FCFA 18.9M

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

$29.5K FCFA 16.6M

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

$356 FCFA 200.9K

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

$17.78 FCFA 10.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 FCFA 29.6K

$17.49 FCFA 9,880

199.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.5 FCFA 40.4K

$34.76 FCFA 19.6K

105.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 FCFA 8,235

Cinema Ticket

$5.38 FCFA 3,039

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$352 FCFA 199.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.6 FCFA 45.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.4 FCFA 40.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 FCFA 84.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 FCFA 78.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 FCFA 221.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 FCFA 123.6K

$231 FCFA 130.7K

-5.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$565 FCFA 319.4K

$342 FCFA 193.4K

65.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 FCFA 201.4K

$288 FCFA 162.5K

23.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 FCFA 476.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$644 FCFA 363.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$791 FCFA 446.7K

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: September 8, 2026

Last update for Malabo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Bata versus $72.0 in Malabo. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Bata vs $156 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 116% more than Malabo, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,226 per month in Bata and $1,032 in Malabo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Bata and $688 in Malabo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 126% 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 $688, than in Bata at $1,484. 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.