Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Buea versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Buea versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,058 in Buea versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Buea costs roughly 44% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buea is 44% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 FCFA 1,016

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

-48.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 FCFA 71.1K

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

242.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 FCFA 3,527

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

8.06%

Cappuccino

$2.20 FCFA 1,257

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

-17.60%

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

$1.34 FCFA 766

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

-23.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 FCFA 299

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

-40.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 FCFA 617

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

-63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 FCFA 917

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

-64.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.89 FCFA 1,652

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

78.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 FCFA 236

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-82.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 FCFA 947

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

49.55%

Eggs

$2.01 FCFA 1,150

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

-8.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.31 FCFA 13.3K

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

31.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.88 FCFA 4,506

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

92.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.45 FCFA 2,544

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

-63.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 FCFA 2,022

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

-4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 827

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

-8.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 519

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

-60.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 FCFA 775

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

-30.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,027

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

-5.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 FCFA 782

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-41.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 FCFA 428

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

-25.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 FCFA 387

$0.55 Rp 9,773

23.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 FCFA 1,492

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

17.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 FCFA 4,957

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

-62.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 FCFA 723

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

-47.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 FCFA 1,016

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

-40.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.25 FCFA 143

$0.48 Rp 8,566

-47.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 FCFA 309

$0.43 Rp 7,679

25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 FCFA 3,046

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

-5.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 FCFA 686

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

50.00%

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

$19.5K FCFA 11.2M

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

-21.68%

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

$15.8K FCFA 9.0M

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

-50.25%

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

$62.7 FCFA 35.8K

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-23.01%

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

$17.55 FCFA 10.0K

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

170.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$175 FCFA 99.8K

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

830.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.49 FCFA 15.1K

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

-53.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.37 FCFA 2,498

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

-76.67%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 FCFA 4,905

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

88.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$530 FCFA 302.9K

$481 Rp 8.5M

10.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,440 FCFA 2.0M

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

-39.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.15 FCFA 20.1K

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

-22.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.9 FCFA 39.9K

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

94.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 FCFA 81.8K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

78.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 FCFA 40.6K

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

-9.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 FCFA 74.0K

$168 Rp 3.0M

-22.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

13.78

38.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Buea: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ubud, Bali pays 30% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $124 in Buea vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $295, with Buea 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

Buea vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buea and Ubud, Bali differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($771 vs $1,368 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Ubud, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $530 in Buea versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Buea – a meal for two runs $124 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $771 in Buea versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buea but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Buea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Buea 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.

Expats usually find Buea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.