How Mali compares across key indices
Cost of Living
32 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
20/100
Healthcare
31/100
Quality of Life
59/200
How far your money goes in Mali
Cost of Living
32
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
24
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
32
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
33
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Mali - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
20/100
Crime Index
80/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Mali has 60 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $628 in Kolokani to $860 in Bamako. Pèlèngana leads on safety, scoring 24/100. Bamako ranks highest for quality of life at 67/200.
Kolokani
$628/mo
Pèlèngana
24/100
Bamako
67/200
Bamako
47/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamako | $860 | 15/100 | 67/200 | 47/100 | 95 |
| Sikasso | $693 | 20/100 | 66/200 | 34/100 | 95 |
| Koutiala | $677 | 21/100 | 66/200 | 32/100 | 95 |
| SĂ©gou | $676 | 21/100 | 66/200 | 32/100 | 95 |
| Kayes | $674 | 21/100 | 66/200 | 32/100 | 95 |
| Mopti | $672 | 21/100 | 66/200 | 32/100 | 95 |
| Kalaban Koro | $664 | 22/100 | 66/200 | 31/100 | 95 |
| Gao | $661 | 22/100 | 66/200 | 31/100 | 95 |
| Kati | $660 | 22/100 | 66/200 | 31/100 | 95 |
| San | $653 | 22/100 | 66/200 | 30/100 | 95 |
| Bougouni | $648 | 23/100 | 66/200 | 29/100 | 94 |
| Timbuktu | $646 | 23/100 | 66/200 | 29/100 | 94 |
| Kita | $642 | 23/100 | 66/200 | 29/100 | 94 |
| Dialakorodji | $639 | 23/100 | 66/200 | 29/100 | 93 |
| Koulikoro | $637 | 24/100 | 66/200 | 28/100 | 93 |
| Fana | $632 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 28/100 | 93 |
| Markala | $630 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Niono | $630 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Nioro | $630 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Pèlèngana | $629 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Kolokani | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Bourem | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Sangarébougou | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Massiogo | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Djenné | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Kidal | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Kadiolo | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Douentza | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Bla | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Moninnpébougou | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| ZĂ©goua | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Diré | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Diéma | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Banamba | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Bankass | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Bamba | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Bafoulabé | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Mahina | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Sibi | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
| Diourou | $628 | 24/100 | 67/200 | 27/100 | 92 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Mali. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
2
Verified records
1
Cities covered
2
Credential signals
Bamako
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Mali
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Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Mali
Pollution Index
100/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
56.8ug/m3
Unhealthy
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Mali, answered with data
Mali has a cost of living index of 32 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $653 in San and reach $860 in Bamako.
San is the most affordable city in Mali in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $653 for a single person including rent. Kati is the next most affordable at $660/mo.
Mali has a safety index of 20/100, making it worth researching carefully before committing for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, San scores highest on safety at 22/100.
Bamako ranks highest for quality of life in Mali, scoring 67/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $860/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, San offers the lowest monthly costs at $653/mo.
Mali scores 31/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Mali's cost of living is roughly 68% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 76% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Mali has a pollution index of 100/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Your pre-departure checklist for Mali
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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