🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $888 in Bissau versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Bissau versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,929 in Bissau versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Bissau costs roughly 38% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bissau is 34% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.17F CFA 2,894
$3.57Rp 61.6K
44.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.26F CFA 14.7K
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-19.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45F CFA 5,295
$5.07Rp 87.5K
86.39%
Cappuccino
$1.73F CFA 971
$2.83Rp 48.8K
-38.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05F CFA 587
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-21.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92F CFA 513
$0.69Rp 12.0K
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.69F CFA 384
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-76.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77F CFA 994
$1.74Rp 30.1K
1.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94F CFA 529
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-62.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10F CFA 1,177
$1.19Rp 20.6K
76.47%
Eggs
$5.33F CFA 2,987
$2.43Rp 41.9K
119.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.60F CFA 8,177
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-0.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.09F CFA 7,894
$4.18Rp 72.1K
237.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.22F CFA 7,965
$11.94Rp 206.1K
19.10%
Apples(1kg)
$4.48F CFA 2,512
$3.69Rp 63.6K
21.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03F CFA 578
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-36.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38F CFA 2,453
$2.69Rp 46.4K
62.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.16F CFA 87.1
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-93.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38F CFA 770
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-27.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39F CFA 780
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-36.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28F CFA 719
$0.72Rp 12.5K
77.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.13Rp 54.1K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.99F CFA 3,915
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-70.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30F CFA 729
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-52.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 481
$2.88Rp 49.7K
-70.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55F CFA 307
$0.29Rp 5,010
89.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.12F CFA 14.1K
$8.17Rp 141.0K
207.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45Rp 7,834
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.42Rp 7,278
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.16Rp 106.3K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52F CFA 849
$0.84Rp 14.5K
80.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KF CFA 18.1M
$26.2KRp 453.1M
22.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KF CFA 16.3M
$32.5KRp 560.8M
-10.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109F CFA 61.0K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
38.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.37F CFA 19.3K
$3.95Rp 68.2K
770.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.85F CFA 25.7K
$24.40Rp 421.4K
87.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.39F CFA 24.9K
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-54.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.04Rp 69.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$761F CFA 426.1K
$303Rp 5.2M
151.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,338F CFA 1.3M
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-64.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442F CFA 247.7K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-56.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228F CFA 128.0K
$674Rp 11.6M
-66.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$742F CFA 415.9K
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-78.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474F CFA 265.5K
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-77.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,062F CFA 595.0K
$173Rp 3.0M
513.40%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Bissau and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bissau pays 513% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Bissau vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 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 Ubud, Bali?
Bissau and Ubud, Bali differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($888 vs $1,438 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?
Bissau pays 513% more on average, 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Bissau versus $1,012 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 $761 in Bissau versus $303 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 2% 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 $888 in Bissau versus $1,438 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 62% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.