😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $969 in Cotonou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,393 in Cotonou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,816 in Cotonou.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 44% more expensive than Cotonou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Cotonou is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40Rp 60.2K
$3.57F CFA 2,017
-4.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38Rp 573.6K
$26.18F CFA 14.8K
23.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00Rp 88.6K
$5.41F CFA 3,053
-7.58%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 50.0K
$5.62F CFA 3,171
-49.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.4K
$0.92F CFA 522
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.0K
$0.72F CFA 404
1.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.98Rp 52.8K
$1.43F CFA 809
108.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97Rp 70.3K
$3.50F CFA 1,976
13.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79Rp 31.8K
$2.66F CFA 1,504
-32.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 43.7K
$1.42F CFA 803
73.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.2K
$1.92F CFA 1,086
-37.50%
Eggs
$2.39Rp 42.3K
$2.24F CFA 1,266
6.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40Rp 255.1K
$9.36F CFA 5,284
53.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.28Rp 75.9K
$4.85F CFA 2,737
-11.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82Rp 209.4K
$4.96F CFA 2,797
138.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78Rp 67.0K
$4.02F CFA 2,269
-5.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 28.9K
$1.44F CFA 815
13.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80Rp 49.6K
$1.26F CFA 709
122.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.0K
$1.82F CFA 1,028
24.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.3K
$1.34F CFA 756
49.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.2K
$1.48F CFA 837
49.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 18.9K
$0.48F CFA 270
122.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76Rp 13.5K
$1.23F CFA 693
-38.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 55.4K
$2.32F CFA 1,307
34.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 421.9K
$4.53F CFA 2,556
425.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84Rp 50.3K
$1.24F CFA 701
129.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.2K
$2.21F CFA 1,249
25.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,726
$1.81F CFA 1,021
-85.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 148.2K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,034
$1.38F CFA 778
-67.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,578
$1.31F CFA 737
-67.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98Rp 105.9K
$1.72F CFA 970
247.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.11F CFA 626
-27.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KRp 457.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KRp 563.4M
$24.4KF CFA 13.8M
30.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$269F CFA 152.0K
-70.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14Rp 73.3K
$44.74F CFA 25.3K
-90.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12Rp 427.2K
$56.0F CFA 31.6K
-56.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.8Rp 1.7M
$60.0F CFA 33.9K
62.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64Rp 117.7K
$5.40F CFA 3,046
22.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 71.5K
$7.72F CFA 4,356
-47.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.3M
$190F CFA 107.3K
56.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,590Rp 116.7M
$6,481F CFA 3.7M
1.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1Rp 976.8K
$17.36F CFA 9,797
217.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51Rp 682.1K
$9.01F CFA 5,087
327.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$8.61F CFA 4,862
900.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$47.92F CFA 27.0K
62.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985Rp 17.5M
$200F CFA 113.0K
392.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665Rp 11.8M
$148F CFA 83.8K
347.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,446Rp 61.0M
$584F CFA 329.4K
490.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,042Rp 36.2M
$283F CFA 159.7K
621.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cotonou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
5
165.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Last update for Cotonou: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Ubud, Bali and $200 in Cotonou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $26.00 in Cotonou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $211 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
Ubud, Bali vs Cotonou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cotonou cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Cotonou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,091 in Ubud, Bali and $1,454 in Cotonou 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 Ubud, Bali and Cotonou?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $200 in Cotonou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Cotonou?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Cotonou?
All in, you'll spend $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $969 in Cotonou – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Cotonou?
At $969 in Cotonou versus $1,394 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 Ubud, Bali or Cotonou 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, Ubud, Bali or Cotonou?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Cotonou 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 44% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared