🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $594 in Ardabil versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Ardabil versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,279 in Ardabil versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Ardabil costs roughly 58% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ardabil is 56% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.44$5.44
$3.56Rp 63.7K
52.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.15$17.15
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-47.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79$5.79
$4.95Rp 88.4K
16.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46$1.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05$1.05
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.50$1.50
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-44.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45$0.45
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-66.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52$0.52
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74$0.74
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-59.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58$0.58
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-76.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$1.16Rp 20.7K
162.07%
Eggs
$1.14$1.14
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-53.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.01$6.01
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-59.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.34$3.34
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-22.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.07$10.07
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-17.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80$1.80
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-53.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.56Rp 27.8K
1.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85$1.85
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-34.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05$1.05
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-54.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03$1.03
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-46.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76$0.76
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-65.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18$1.18
$1.01Rp 18.1K
16.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23$0.23
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-70.51%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.59$0.59
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.64$0.64
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43$1.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.26$1.26
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-62.05%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18$0.18
$0.27Rp 4,800
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.02$10.02
$8.03Rp 143.4K
24.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33$0.33
$0.46Rp 8,150
-28.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29$0.29
$0.45Rp 8,037
-35.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01$2.01
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-67.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-1.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$72.1K$72.1K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
175.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.2K$55.2K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
71.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.66$15.66
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-80.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.07$2.07
$4.06Rp 72.6K
-49.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.91$5.91
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-74.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.13$23.13
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-76.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.45$12.45
$6.63Rp 118.4K
87.78%
Cinema Ticket
$1.46$1.46
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-64.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117$117
$304Rp 5.4M
-61.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,949$1,949
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-70.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.99$38.99
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-29.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.44$22.44
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-41.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111$111
$88.6Rp 1.6M
24.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.3$70.3
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-9.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$335$335
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-66.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200$200
$675Rp 12.1M
-70.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$683$683
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-80.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319$319
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-84.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,075$1,075
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-62.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$664$664
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-70.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ardabil
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.24
13.28
67.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ardabil: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $335 in Ardabil and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Ardabil vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $138 vs $302 per month, with Ardabil cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ardabil vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Ardabil?
Ardabil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 139% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $891 in Ardabil and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali 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 Ardabil and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $335 in Ardabil versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ardabil runs roughly 25% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $117 in Ardabil versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ardabil or Ubud, Bali?
At $594 in Ardabil versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ardabil but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ardabil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ardabil or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ardabil 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, Ardabil or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ardabil and Ubud, Bali 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 Ardabil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.