Cost of Living Comparison Between Malabo and Bata Cost of Living Comparison Between Malabo and Bata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $605 per month in Malabo vs $1,680 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Malabo vs $2,393 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Malabo vs $3,106 in Bata, rent included.

Malabo is about 64% cheaper than Bata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malabo sits 55% below the global median, while Bata is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.06 FCFA 9,620

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.3 FCFA 39.1K

$57.4 FCFA 32.4K

20.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 FCFA 4,883

Cappuccino

$5.30 FCFA 2,989

$2.73 FCFA 1,537

94.14%

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

$0.89 FCFA 505

$0.99 FCFA 560

-10.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 FCFA 510

$0.91 FCFA 510

-1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 FCFA 1,984

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 FCFA 2,413

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 FCFA 1,572

$2.23 FCFA 1,255

25.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 FCFA 1,936

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 FCFA 1,424

Eggs

$4.27 FCFA 2,409

$2.08 FCFA 1,172

105.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 FCFA 3,857

$10.74 FCFA 6,055

-36.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 FCFA 3,854

$6.78 FCFA 3,825

0.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.15 FCFA 4,030

$9.45 FCFA 5,330

-24.34%

Apples (1kg)

$7.35 FCFA 4,143

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 FCFA 1,000

Oranges (1kg)

$6.87 FCFA 3,876

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 FCFA 2,207

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 FCFA 1,780

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 FCFA 1,713

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 FCFA 525

$0.92 FCFA 519

1.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 693

$2.48 FCFA 1,400

-50.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 FCFA 2,611

$5.30 FCFA 2,992

-12.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 FCFA 3,455

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 FCFA 814

$3.59 FCFA 2,027

-59.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 FCFA 753

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.60 FCFA 15.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 FCFA 513

$0.84 FCFA 475

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 FCFA 452

$0.76 FCFA 428

5.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 FCFA 5,063

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 FCFA 649

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

$33.0K FCFA 18.6M

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

$29.3K FCFA 16.5M

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

$355 FCFA 200.1K

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

$17.40 FCFA 9,811

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.32 FCFA 9,768

$202 FCFA 113.9K

-91.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.03 FCFA 19.8K

$122 FCFA 68.8K

-71.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 FCFA 8,396

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 FCFA 3,138

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$359 FCFA 202.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.93 FCFA 15.2K

$73.5 FCFA 41.4K

-63.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$132 FCFA 74.2K

$78.1 FCFA 44.1K

68.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 FCFA 93.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 FCFA 50.7K

$159 FCFA 89.5K

-43.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 FCFA 150.0K

$395 FCFA 223.0K

-32.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 FCFA 69.4K

$220 FCFA 123.8K

-43.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 FCFA 539.2K

$572 FCFA 322.4K

67.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 FCFA 294.3K

$351 FCFA 197.8K

48.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$847 FCFA 477.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$634 FCFA 357.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$810 FCFA 456.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Malabo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bata: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Malabo versus $395 in Bata. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Malabo versus $57.0 in Bata. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Malabo vs $343 in Bata – so Malabo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Malabo vs Bata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bata costs about 178% more than Malabo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Malabo and $2,520 in Bata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malabo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $605 in Malabo and $1,680 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 134% more in Bata, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malabo, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Bata at $1,680. In Malabo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malabo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Malabo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.