🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $838 in Bissau versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,355 in Bissau versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,873 in Bissau versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Bissau costs roughly 39% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bissau is 39% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.18F CFA 2,959
$3.44Rp 61.0K
50.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.21F CFA 15.0K
$36.31Rp 644.0K
-27.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30F CFA 5,307
$5.71Rp 101.2K
62.87%
Cappuccino
$1.80F CFA 1,027
$2.67Rp 47.4K
-32.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08F CFA 616
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-38.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89F CFA 508
$0.87Rp 15.5K
2.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.67F CFA 381
$2.95Rp 52.4K
-77.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.52Rp 80.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79F CFA 1,024
$1.62Rp 28.7K
10.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95F CFA 540
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-59.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13F CFA 1,218
$1.11Rp 19.6K
91.89%
Eggs
$5.32F CFA 3,034
$2.20Rp 39.0K
141.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66F CFA 8,364
$17.69Rp 313.8K
-17.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.21F CFA 8,109
$4.10Rp 72.7K
246.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23F CFA 8,120
$12.18Rp 216.0K
16.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.45F CFA 2,542
$3.71Rp 65.7K
19.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04F CFA 594
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-34.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.30F CFA 2,455
$2.28Rp 40.5K
88.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.20F CFA 116
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-89.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39F CFA 791
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-27.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44F CFA 822
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-38.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.01Rp 17.9K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34F CFA 766
$0.55Rp 9,788
143.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.23Rp 39.6K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90F CFA 3,937
$23.07Rp 409.2K
-70.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34F CFA 765
$2.42Rp 42.9K
-44.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92F CFA 527
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-69.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51F CFA 291
$0.27Rp 4,821
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.76F CFA 14.7K
$8.98Rp 159.3K
186.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.48Rp 8,580
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.43Rp 7,691
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.64Rp 100.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47F CFA 841
$0.80Rp 14.2K
83.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KF CFA 18.3M
$24.9KRp 442.4M
28.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KF CFA 16.2M
$31.7KRp 562.4M
-10.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106F CFA 60.6K
$81.5Rp 1.4M
30.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.39F CFA 19.6K
$6.49Rp 115.2K
429.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.20F CFA 25.8K
$18.77Rp 332.9K
140.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.95F CFA 25.1K
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-22.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 332.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.54Rp 80.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$767F CFA 437.5K
$481Rp 8.5M
59.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,334F CFA 1.3M
$5,711Rp 101.3M
-59.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$45.52Rp 807.3K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.88Rp 636.4K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$529F CFA 301.8K
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-52.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178F CFA 101.8K
$698Rp 12.4M
-74.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$877F CFA 500.2K
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-75.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433F CFA 247.2K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-75.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bissau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,041F CFA 594.1K
$168Rp 3.0M
519.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bissau: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $529 in Bissau and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bissau pays 520% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $307 vs $295, 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 63% in total monthly costs ($838 vs $1,368 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 520% 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: $529 in Bissau versus $1,115 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 $767 in Bissau versus $481 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 $838 in Bissau versus $1,368 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 63% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.