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: $544 in Buea versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $804 in Buea versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,064 in Buea versus $3,694 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 60% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 FCFA 1,003

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

-50.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 FCFA 3,576

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

30.25%

Cappuccino

$2.21 FCFA 1,245

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-19.64%

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

$1.26 FCFA 709

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 FCFA 301

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-24.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 FCFA 583

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

-64.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 FCFA 785

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

-63.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 FCFA 1,736

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

79.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 FCFA 233

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-83.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 FCFA 926

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

36.67%

Eggs

$2.58 FCFA 1,455

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 FCFA 2,458

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-64.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 FCFA 1,952

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

-5.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 FCFA 807

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 484

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-69.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 FCFA 789

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-39.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 FCFA 982

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

-11.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 782

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-39.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 FCFA 420

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$8.66 FCFA 4,888

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-62.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 FCFA 680

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-57.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 FCFA 976

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-37.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.25 FCFA 140

$0.45 Rp 8,047

-44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 FCFA 277

$0.45 Rp 8,094

8.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 FCFA 2,918

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

-17.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 FCFA 673

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

40.00%

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

$19.6K FCFA 11.1M

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

-24.62%

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

$20.9K FCFA 11.8M

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-34.13%

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

$62.1 FCFA 35.0K

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-23.16%

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

$17.80 FCFA 10.1K

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

338.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$112 FCFA 63.0K

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

356.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.37 FCFA 14.9K

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-73.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.50 FCFA 2,542

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

-30.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$608 FCFA 343.4K

$304 Rp 5.4M

100.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.07 FCFA 19.8K

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-35.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 FCFA 40.6K

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-6.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.2 FCFA 39.1K

$986 Rp 17.7M

-92.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.6 FCFA 34.8K

$658 Rp 11.8M

-90.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 FCFA 120.3K

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-89.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$133 FCFA 75.2K

$163 Rp 2.9M

-18.54%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.2 in Buea and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ubud, Bali pays 23% 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 158% in total monthly costs ($544 vs $1,404 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ubud, Bali earns 23% 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: $69.2 in Buea versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $608 in Buea versus $304 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 $544 per month in Buea versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $544 in Buea versus $1,404 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 158% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.