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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.59 F CFA 2,029
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.52 F CFA 15.0K
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-18.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 F CFA 3,000
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
9.26%
Cappuccino
$5.58 F CFA 3,150
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
102.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 F CFA 522
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-30.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 F CFA 436
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.44 F CFA 811
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-50.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 F CFA 1,975
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-7.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.60 F CFA 1,469
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
52.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 F CFA 805
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-42.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 F CFA 1,084
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
60.00%
Eggs
$2.27 F CFA 1,282
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-6.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 F CFA 5,249
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 F CFA 2,864
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
17.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.09 F CFA 2,875
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-58.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 F CFA 2,271
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
9.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 F CFA 810
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-7.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 F CFA 711
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-54.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 F CFA 998
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-24.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 F CFA 763
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-31.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 F CFA 808
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-38.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 F CFA 294
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-50.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 F CFA 724
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
75.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32 F CFA 1,309
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-29.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.34 F CFA 2,454
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-80.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 F CFA 669
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-58.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 F CFA 1,248
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-20.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 F CFA 971
$0.29 Rp 5,217
493.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 F CFA 811
$0.45 Rp 8,047
220.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 F CFA 734
$0.45 Rp 8,094
188.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 F CFA 978
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-72.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 F CFA 624
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
29.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K F CFA 14.0M
$31.7K Rp 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)
$261 F CFA 147.7K
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
223.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.50 F CFA 25.1K
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
996.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3 F CFA 32.4K
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
134.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 F CFA 34.2K
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-38.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.37 F CFA 3,035
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-16.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37 F CFA 4,162
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
82.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 F CFA 106.9K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-37.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,558 F CFA 3.7M
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-0.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.48 F CFA 9,870
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-67.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.70 F CFA 4,912
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-77.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$9.04 F CFA 5,106
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-89.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.05 F CFA 27.1K
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-37.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$201 F CFA 113.5K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-79.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 F CFA 83.0K
$658 Rp 11.8M
-77.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$592 F CFA 334.5K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-82.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 F CFA 161.4K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-86.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$163 Rp 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.

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