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