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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Malabo vs $1,654 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Malabo vs $2,376 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Malabo vs $3,098 in Bata, rent included.

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

Malabo sits 56% below the global median, while Bata is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.71 FCFA 9,585

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 FCFA 40.1K

$56.3 FCFA 32.3K

24.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 FCFA 4,978

Cappuccino

$5.20 FCFA 2,984

$2.71 FCFA 1,554

91.88%

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

$0.90 FCFA 517

$0.98 FCFA 562

-8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$0.85 FCFA 488

7.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 FCFA 2,001

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 FCFA 2,498

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 FCFA 1,628

$2.23 FCFA 1,280

27.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 FCFA 1,867

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 FCFA 1,432

Eggs

$4.11 FCFA 2,358

$2.10 FCFA 1,203

95.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 FCFA 3,901

$10.49 FCFA 6,017

-35.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 FCFA 3,848

$6.98 FCFA 4,001

-3.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 FCFA 4,297

$9.08 FCFA 5,207

-17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 FCFA 4,251

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,019

Oranges (1kg)

$6.93 FCFA 3,973

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 FCFA 2,334

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 FCFA 1,817

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 FCFA 1,731

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 FCFA 531

$0.91 FCFA 520

2.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 FCFA 724

$2.40 FCFA 1,379

-47.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 FCFA 2,568

$5.16 FCFA 2,960

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.10 FCFA 3,498

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 FCFA 838

$3.54 FCFA 2,032

-58.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 FCFA 748

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 FCFA 15.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 FCFA 482

$0.85 FCFA 489

-1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 FCFA 459

$0.78 FCFA 445

2.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 FCFA 5,047

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 FCFA 659

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

$33.5K FCFA 19.2M

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

$29.5K FCFA 16.9M

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

$355 FCFA 203.8K

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

$17.49 FCFA 10.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.52 FCFA 10.0K

$200 FCFA 115.0K

-91.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.61 FCFA 19.8K

$124 FCFA 71.0K

-72.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.94 FCFA 8,566

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 FCFA 3,177

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$357 FCFA 204.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.55 FCFA 15.2K

$76.1 FCFA 43.7K

-65.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$134 FCFA 76.6K

$78.0 FCFA 44.7K

71.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$160 FCFA 92.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 FCFA 51.5K

$160 FCFA 91.9K

-43.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 FCFA 152.9K

$392 FCFA 225.0K

-32.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 FCFA 70.9K

$219 FCFA 125.8K

-43.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 FCFA 549.3K

$575 FCFA 329.7K

66.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$520 FCFA 298.4K

$347 FCFA 198.8K

50.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$846 FCFA 485.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$645 FCFA 369.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 FCFA 450.2K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bata: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Malabo versus $392 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 $70.0 in Malabo versus $56.0 in Bata. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Malabo vs $341 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 181% 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 $883 per month in Malabo and $2,481 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 $589 in Malabo and $1,654 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 131% 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 $589, than in Bata at $1,654. 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.