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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $605 in Malabo, rent included.

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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 135% more than Malabo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Malabo is 55% below – 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

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$69.3 FCFA 39.1K

-52.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$8.66 FCFA 4,883

-42.84%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$5.30 FCFA 2,989

-48.87%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.89 FCFA 505

50.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.90 FCFA 510

-22.22%

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)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$2.79 FCFA 1,572

-35.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$4.27 FCFA 2,409

-42.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$6.84 FCFA 3,857

115.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$6.83 FCFA 3,854

-36.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$7.15 FCFA 4,030

69.79%

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)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.93 FCFA 525

8.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.23 FCFA 693

-36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$4.63 FCFA 2,611

-28.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.44 FCFA 814

93.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$1.33 FCFA 753

-79.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$26.60 FCFA 15.0K

-69.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.91 FCFA 513

-49.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.80 FCFA 452

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$8.98 FCFA 5,063

-32.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$33.0K FCFA 18.6M

-20.77%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$29.3K FCFA 16.5M

9.80%

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)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$17.40 FCFA 9,811

-76.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$17.32 FCFA 9,768

35.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$35.03 FCFA 19.8K

181.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$14.89 FCFA 8,396

-55.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$5.56 FCFA 3,138

-25.36%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$359 FCFA 202.2K

1744.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$26.93 FCFA 15.2K

106.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$132 FCFA 74.2K

-70.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$89.9 FCFA 50.7K

-13.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$266 FCFA 150.0K

278.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$123 FCFA 69.4K

448.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$956 FCFA 539.2K

259.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$522 FCFA 294.3K

290.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$847 FCFA 477.4K

235.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$634 FCFA 357.8K

256.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.8

95.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Malabo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $266 in Malabo. 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $69.0 in Malabo. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $147 in Malabo – 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

Ubud, Bali vs Malabo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $605 in Malabo – roughly 135% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $907 in Malabo. 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.