🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Bissau versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,405 in Bissau versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,927 in Bissau versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Bissau costs roughly 37% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bissau is 34% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32F CFA 3,005
$3.57Rp 64.0K
49.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.76F CFA 15.1K
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-17.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.26F CFA 5,229
$4.86Rp 87.1K
90.53%
Cappuccino
$1.71F CFA 965
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-37.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05F CFA 591
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-20.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92F CFA 519
$0.70Rp 12.6K
31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.72F CFA 409
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-75.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79F CFA 1,013
$1.71Rp 30.6K
4.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95F CFA 538
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-61.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18F CFA 1,230
$1.20Rp 21.5K
81.67%
Eggs
$5.28F CFA 2,979
$2.44Rp 43.8K
116.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40F CFA 8,133
$14.38Rp 257.7K
0.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.20F CFA 8,020
$4.31Rp 77.1K
229.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.32F CFA 8,086
$12.21Rp 218.7K
17.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.33F CFA 2,443
$3.68Rp 66.0K
17.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07F CFA 606
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-30.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.50F CFA 2,541
$2.79Rp 49.9K
61.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.18F CFA 104
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-92.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42F CFA 805
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-27.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43F CFA 810
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34F CFA 758
$0.73Rp 13.1K
83.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22F CFA 4,077
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-68.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32F CFA 747
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-53.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92F CFA 517
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-66.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55F CFA 310
$0.29Rp 5,217
89.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.32F CFA 14.3K
$8.06Rp 144.4K
214.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45Rp 8,047
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 8,094
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49F CFA 841
$0.85Rp 15.2K
75.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KF CFA 18.3M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
24.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KF CFA 16.4M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-8.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106F CFA 60.1K
$80.8Rp 1.4M
31.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.72F CFA 19.6K
$4.06Rp 72.7K
755.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.89F CFA 25.4K
$24.42Rp 437.6K
83.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.70F CFA 24.7K
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-55.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.04Rp 72.4K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$759F CFA 428.7K
$304Rp 5.4M
149.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,276F CFA 1.3M
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-65.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432F CFA 243.9K
$986Rp 17.7M
-56.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$233F CFA 131.4K
$658Rp 11.8M
-64.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$736F CFA 415.4K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-78.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487F CFA 275.3K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-76.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,048F CFA 591.6K
$163Rp 2.9M
541.02%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Bissau and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bissau pays 541% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $297, 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 59% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $1,404 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 541% 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: $432 in Bissau versus $986 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 $759 in Bissau versus $304 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 4% 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 $883 in Bissau versus $1,404 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 59% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.