🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $891 in Bissau versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Bissau versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,945 in Bissau versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Bissau costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bissau is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35F CFA 3,039
$3.57Rp 64.5K
49.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.81F CFA 15.2K
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-17.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.64F CFA 5,472
$5.01Rp 90.4K
92.42%
Cappuccino
$1.72F CFA 974
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-39.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04F CFA 591
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-22.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84F CFA 476
$0.73Rp 13.2K
15.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.69F CFA 392
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-76.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80F CFA 1,023
$1.78Rp 32.1K
1.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94F CFA 536
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-61.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14F CFA 1,214
$1.15Rp 20.7K
86.09%
Eggs
$5.24F CFA 2,978
$2.41Rp 43.6K
117.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.29F CFA 8,110
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-0.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.20F CFA 8,062
$4.19Rp 75.6K
238.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.35F CFA 8,145
$12.06Rp 217.7K
18.99%
Apples(1kg)
$4.29F CFA 2,438
$3.64Rp 65.7K
17.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04F CFA 590
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-33.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.54F CFA 2,576
$2.79Rp 50.3K
62.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.19F CFA 109
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-91.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40F CFA 793
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-29.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40F CFA 792
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-38.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28F CFA 727
$0.79Rp 14.2K
62.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.19Rp 57.6K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.97F CFA 3,955
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-70.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36F CFA 773
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-53.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90F CFA 509
$2.76Rp 49.7K
-67.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51F CFA 289
$0.27Rp 4,813
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.02F CFA 14.8K
$8.37Rp 151.1K
210.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45Rp 8,167
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.46Rp 8,298
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53F CFA 867
$0.86Rp 15.6K
77.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KF CFA 18.2M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
20.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KF CFA 16.7M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-9.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108F CFA 61.2K
$79.0Rp 1.4M
36.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.27F CFA 19.5K
$4.09Rp 73.9K
737.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.80F CFA 25.4K
$23.85Rp 430.5K
87.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.80F CFA 25.4K
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-54.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$765F CFA 434.5K
$297Rp 5.4M
157.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,293F CFA 1.3M
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-65.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438F CFA 248.7K
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-57.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231F CFA 131.4K
$680Rp 12.3M
-65.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$736F CFA 417.7K
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-78.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$473F CFA 268.5K
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-77.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,051F CFA 596.8K
$164Rp 3.0M
542.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bissau: July 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Bissau and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bissau pays 542% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Bissau vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $306 vs $298, 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
Bissau vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bissau and in Ubud, Bali?
Bissau and Ubud, Bali differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($891 vs $1,392 including rent). Bissau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bissau or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 542% higher in Bissau, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bissau and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Bissau versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bissau and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $765 in Bissau versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $891 in Bissau versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bissau but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Bissau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bissau and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bissau or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bissau 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.
Where should expats move: Bissau or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Bissau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.