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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Malabo vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Malabo vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Malabo vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Malabo is about 58% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malabo sits 56% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 FCFA 40.1K

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

115.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 FCFA 4,978

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

79.34%

Cappuccino

$5.20 FCFA 2,984

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

89.09%

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

$0.90 FCFA 517

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

21.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 FCFA 1,628

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

63.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

Eggs

$4.11 FCFA 2,358

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

69.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 FCFA 3,901

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-53.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 FCFA 3,848

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

54.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 FCFA 4,297

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-37.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 FCFA 531

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-12.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 FCFA 724

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 FCFA 2,568

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

36.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 FCFA 838

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

-47.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 FCFA 748

$0.27 Rp 4,778

381.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 FCFA 15.3K

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

229.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 FCFA 482

$0.48 Rp 8,659

75.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 FCFA 459

$0.42 Rp 7,532

90.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 FCFA 5,047

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

41.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

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

$33.5K FCFA 19.2M

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

25.80%

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

$29.5K FCFA 16.9M

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

-8.25%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

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

$17.49 FCFA 10.0K

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

329.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.52 FCFA 10.0K

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

-27.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.61 FCFA 19.8K

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-64.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.94 FCFA 8,566

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

135.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 FCFA 3,177

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

38.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$357 FCFA 204.8K

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

-94.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.55 FCFA 15.2K

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-50.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$134 FCFA 76.6K

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

253.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 FCFA 51.5K

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

17.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 FCFA 152.9K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-73.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 FCFA 70.9K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-81.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 FCFA 549.3K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-71.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$520 FCFA 298.4K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-74.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$846 FCFA 485.0K

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

-69.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$645 FCFA 369.7K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-71.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

13.28

-48.80%

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

Last update for Malabo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Malabo versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Malabo vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $589 in Malabo, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 139% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $883 per month in Malabo and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. 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.

Public transport costs about 230% less in Malabo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 101% more in Ubud, Bali, 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 Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Malabo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $589 in Malabo to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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