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 $605 per month in Malabo vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Malabo vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Malabo vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Malabo is about 57% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malabo sits 55% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.3 FCFA 39.1K

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

111.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 FCFA 4,883

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

74.95%

Cappuccino

$5.30 FCFA 2,989

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

95.57%

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

$0.89 FCFA 505

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-33.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 FCFA 510

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 FCFA 1,572

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

54.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

Eggs

$4.27 FCFA 2,409

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

73.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 FCFA 3,857

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-53.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 FCFA 3,854

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

58.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.15 FCFA 4,030

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-41.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 FCFA 525

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-7.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 693

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

57.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 FCFA 2,611

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

39.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 FCFA 814

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-48.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 FCFA 753

$0.27 Rp 4,800

392.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.60 FCFA 15.0K

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

231.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 FCFA 513

$0.46 Rp 8,150

97.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 FCFA 452

$0.45 Rp 8,037

77.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 FCFA 5,063

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

47.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

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

$33.0K FCFA 18.6M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

26.21%

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

$29.3K FCFA 16.5M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-8.92%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

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

$17.40 FCFA 9,811

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

328.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.32 FCFA 9,768

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

-26.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.03 FCFA 19.8K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-64.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 FCFA 8,396

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

124.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 FCFA 3,138

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

33.98%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$359 FCFA 202.2K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-94.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.93 FCFA 15.2K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-51.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$132 FCFA 74.2K

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

243.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 FCFA 50.7K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

15.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 FCFA 150.0K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-73.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 FCFA 69.4K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-81.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 FCFA 539.2K

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-72.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 FCFA 294.3K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-74.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$847 FCFA 477.4K

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-70.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$634 FCFA 357.8K

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-71.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Malabo versus $1,006 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 $69.0 in Malabo versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Malabo vs $302 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: $605 in Malabo, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 135% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Malabo and $2,129 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 231% less in Malabo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 106% 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 $605, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $605 in Malabo to $1,419 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.