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: $978 in Cotonou versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,407 in Cotonou versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Cotonou versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Cotonou costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cotonou is 27% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47 F CFA 1,948
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
-2.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.93 F CFA 15.1K
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
-17.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.24 F CFA 2,940
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
3.35%
Cappuccino
$5.52 F CFA 3,097
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
95.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 F CFA 483
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-35.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 F CFA 435
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
13.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 F CFA 814
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
-51.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 F CFA 1,956
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-9.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.65 F CFA 1,486
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
52.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 F CFA 774
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-45.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 F CFA 1,037
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
55.46%
Eggs
$2.18 F CFA 1,221
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-10.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.23 F CFA 5,179
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-37.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.93 F CFA 2,763
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
17.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.13 F CFA 2,877
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-57.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 F CFA 2,183
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 F CFA 771
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
-14.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 F CFA 710
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-52.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 F CFA 991
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-24.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 F CFA 789
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-26.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 F CFA 811
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-33.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 F CFA 267
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-54.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 F CFA 718
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
77.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 F CFA 1,309
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
-25.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.52 F CFA 3,659
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-72.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 F CFA 698
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-54.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 F CFA 1,281
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
-20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.80 F CFA 1,012
$0.29 Rp 5,029
520.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 F CFA 810
$0.45 Rp 7,863
220.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 F CFA 705
$0.42 Rp 7,305
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 F CFA 1,005
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
-70.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 F CFA 595
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
26.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K F CFA 13.6M
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-25.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$269 F CFA 150.9K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
243.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.80 F CFA 25.1K
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
1034.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5 F CFA 31.1K
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
127.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 F CFA 33.0K
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-38.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.44 F CFA 3,051
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-14.33%
Cinema Ticket
$7.53 F CFA 4,221
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
86.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 F CFA 106.1K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-37.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,522 F CFA 3.7M
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-0.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.58 F CFA 9,863
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-67.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.64 F CFA 4,846
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
-77.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$9.04 F CFA 5,070
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-89.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.26 F CFA 27.6K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-37.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 F CFA 113.3K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-80.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$149 F CFA 83.6K
$674 Rp 11.7M
-77.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 F CFA 323.7K
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-82.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 F CFA 159.7K
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-86.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotonou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $202 in Cotonou and $1,012 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 $214 vs $298 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 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,467 in Cotonou and $2,158 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: $202 in Cotonou versus $1,012 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 39% 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 $978 per month in Cotonou versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 47% 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 $978 in Cotonou versus $1,438 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 47% 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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