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: $555 in Buea versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $802 in Buea versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,049 in Buea versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Buea costs roughly 61% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buea is 59% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

-49.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.34 FCFA 3,554

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

25.05%

Cappuccino

$2.16 FCFA 1,210

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

-23.67%

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

$1.27 FCFA 710

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

-5.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 FCFA 273

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-28.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 FCFA 581

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

-65.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 FCFA 800

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

-62.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 FCFA 1,702

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

74.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 FCFA 216

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

-85.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 FCFA 920

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

37.82%

Eggs

$2.57 FCFA 1,443

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

5.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.30 FCFA 2,414

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

-63.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 FCFA 2,008

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

-2.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 FCFA 803

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 476

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

-68.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 FCFA 776

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

-40.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

-5.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 808

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

-34.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 FCFA 418

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$8.92 FCFA 5,002

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-62.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 FCFA 704

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-54.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

-37.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.25 FCFA 140

$0.45 Rp 7,863

-44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 FCFA 260

$0.42 Rp 7,305

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.27 FCFA 2,957

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

-14.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 FCFA 664

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

40.48%

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

$19.4K FCFA 10.9M

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

-26.17%

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

$21.1K FCFA 11.8M

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

-35.13%

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

$62.8 FCFA 35.2K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-19.91%

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

$17.38 FCFA 9,746

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

340.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$111 FCFA 62.3K

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

355.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.57 FCFA 14.9K

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-72.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.29 FCFA 2,405

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

-32.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

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

$626 FCFA 350.9K

$303 Rp 5.2M

106.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.46 FCFA 19.9K

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

-34.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 FCFA 39.9K

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-9.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.7 FCFA 40.2K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-92.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.0 FCFA 34.2K

$674 Rp 11.7M

-90.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 FCFA 117.7K

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

-90.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$136 FCFA 76.4K

$173 Rp 3.0M

-21.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Buea: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.7 in Buea and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ubud, Bali pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 159% in total monthly costs ($555 vs $1,438 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ubud, Bali earns 27% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $71.7 in Buea versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $626 in Buea versus $303 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $555 per month in Buea versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $555 in Buea versus $1,438 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 159% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.