🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $963 in Cotonou versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Cotonou versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Cotonou versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Cotonou costs roughly 31% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cotonou is 28% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59F CFA 2,029
$3.57Rp 64.0K
0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.52F CFA 15.0K
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-18.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31F CFA 3,000
$4.86Rp 87.1K
9.26%
Cappuccino
$5.58F CFA 3,150
$2.75Rp 49.2K
102.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92F CFA 522
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-30.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77F CFA 436
$0.70Rp 12.6K
10.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.44F CFA 811
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-50.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50F CFA 1,975
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-7.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60F CFA 1,469
$1.71Rp 30.6K
52.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43F CFA 805
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-42.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92F CFA 1,084
$1.20Rp 21.5K
60.00%
Eggs
$2.27F CFA 1,282
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-6.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.29F CFA 5,249
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.07F CFA 2,864
$4.31Rp 77.1K
17.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.09F CFA 2,875
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-58.31%
Apples(1kg)
$4.02F CFA 2,271
$3.68Rp 66.0K
9.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43F CFA 810
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-7.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26F CFA 711
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-54.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77F CFA 998
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-24.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35F CFA 763
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-31.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43F CFA 808
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52F CFA 294
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-50.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28F CFA 724
$0.73Rp 13.1K
75.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32F CFA 1,309
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-29.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.34F CFA 2,454
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-80.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18F CFA 669
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-58.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21F CFA 1,248
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-20.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72F CFA 971
$0.29Rp 5,217
493.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44F CFA 811
$0.45Rp 8,047
220.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30F CFA 734
$0.45Rp 8,094
188.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73F CFA 978
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-72.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10F CFA 624
$0.85Rp 15.2K
29.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KF CFA 14.0M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-21.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$261F CFA 147.7K
$80.8Rp 1.4M
223.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.50F CFA 25.1K
$4.06Rp 72.7K
996.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3F CFA 32.4K
$24.42Rp 437.6K
134.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5F CFA 34.2K
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-38.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.37F CFA 3,035
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-16.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37F CFA 4,162
$4.04Rp 72.4K
82.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189F CFA 106.9K
$304Rp 5.4M
-37.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,558F CFA 3.7M
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-0.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.48F CFA 9,870
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-67.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.70F CFA 4,912
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-77.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$9.04F CFA 5,106
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-89.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.05F CFA 27.1K
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-37.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201F CFA 113.5K
$986Rp 17.7M
-79.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$147F CFA 83.0K
$658Rp 11.8M
-77.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592F CFA 334.5K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-82.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286F CFA 161.4K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-86.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$163Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.28
-62.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cotonou: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Cotonou and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Cotonou vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $297 per month, with Cotonou cheaper across the board.
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
Cotonou vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Cotonou?
Cotonou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,445 in Cotonou and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cotonou and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Cotonou versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cotonou and Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cotonou vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $963 per month in Cotonou versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cotonou or Ubud, Bali?
At $963 in Cotonou versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cotonou but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Cotonou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cotonou or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Cotonou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cotonou or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Cotonou 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cotonou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.