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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,680 per month in Bata vs $605 in Malabo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,393 per month in Bata vs $1,254 in Malabo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,106 per month in Bata vs $1,903 in Malabo, rent included.

Bata costs about 178% more than Malabo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bata sits 25% above the global median, while Malabo is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.06 FCFA 9,620

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.4 FCFA 32.4K

$69.3 FCFA 39.1K

-17.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 FCFA 4,883

Cappuccino

$2.73 FCFA 1,537

$5.30 FCFA 2,989

-48.49%

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

$0.99 FCFA 560

$0.89 FCFA 505

11.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 510

$0.90 FCFA 510

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 FCFA 1,984

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 FCFA 2,413

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 FCFA 1,255

$2.79 FCFA 1,572

-20.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 FCFA 1,936

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 FCFA 1,424

Eggs

$2.08 FCFA 1,172

$4.27 FCFA 2,409

-51.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 FCFA 6,055

$6.84 FCFA 3,857

57.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 FCFA 3,825

$6.83 FCFA 3,854

-0.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 FCFA 5,330

$7.15 FCFA 4,030

32.17%

Apples (1kg)

$7.35 FCFA 4,143

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 FCFA 1,000

Oranges (1kg)

$6.87 FCFA 3,876

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 FCFA 2,207

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 FCFA 1,780

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 FCFA 1,713

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FCFA 519

$0.93 FCFA 525

-1.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 FCFA 1,400

$1.23 FCFA 693

101.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 FCFA 2,992

$4.63 FCFA 2,611

14.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 FCFA 3,455

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 FCFA 2,027

$1.44 FCFA 814

149.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 FCFA 753

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.60 FCFA 15.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 FCFA 475

$0.91 FCFA 513

-7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 FCFA 428

$0.80 FCFA 452

-5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 FCFA 5,063

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 FCFA 649

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

$33.0K FCFA 18.6M

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

$29.3K FCFA 16.5M

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

$355 FCFA 200.1K

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

$17.40 FCFA 9,811

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$202 FCFA 113.9K

$17.32 FCFA 9,768

1065.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 FCFA 68.8K

$35.03 FCFA 19.8K

248.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 FCFA 8,396

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 FCFA 3,138

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$359 FCFA 202.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.5 FCFA 41.4K

$26.93 FCFA 15.2K

172.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.1 FCFA 44.1K

$132 FCFA 74.2K

-40.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 FCFA 93.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 FCFA 89.5K

$89.9 FCFA 50.7K

76.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 FCFA 223.0K

$266 FCFA 150.0K

48.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 FCFA 123.8K

$123 FCFA 69.4K

78.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 FCFA 322.4K

$956 FCFA 539.2K

-40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 FCFA 197.8K

$522 FCFA 294.3K

-32.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$847 FCFA 477.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$634 FCFA 357.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$810 FCFA 456.6K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Malabo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $395 in Bata versus $266 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 $57.0 in Bata versus $69.0 in Malabo. Groceries tell a different story – $343 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 178% 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 $2,520 per month in Bata and $907 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 $1,680 in Bata and $605 in Malabo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 134% 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 $605, than in Bata at $1,680. 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.