😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,334 in Ashgabat versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,091 in Ashgabat versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,848 in Ashgabat versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ashgabat is roughly 139% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashgabat143% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.57TMT 106
$3.37Rp 59.5K
836.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0TMT 285
$38.59Rp 680.3K
120.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.85TMT 43.06
$5.52Rp 97.3K
132.79%
Cappuccino
$6.88TMT 23.05
$2.64Rp 46.6K
160.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59TMT 5.34
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-4.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TMT 2.75
$0.77Rp 13.6K
6.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.80TMT 19.44
$2.63Rp 46.4K
120.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.72TMT 45.96
$4.28Rp 75.5K
220.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.41TMT 14.77
$1.55Rp 27.3K
184.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09TMT 6.99
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-5.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.01TMT 20.14
$1.13Rp 19.8K
431.86%
Eggs
$6.10TMT 20.44
$2.09Rp 36.8K
191.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$37.39TMT 125
$17.39Rp 306.6K
115.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.96TMT 66.9
$3.87Rp 68.2K
415.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.41TMT 78.4
$12.55Rp 221.2K
86.53%
Apples(1kg)
$4.96TMT 16.61
$3.62Rp 63.8K
37.02%
Banana(1kg)
$8.53TMT 28.59
$1.56Rp 27.5K
446.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.59TMT 25.42
$2.35Rp 41.5K
222.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60TMT 12.05
$2.06Rp 36.2K
74.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32TMT 7.78
$1.90Rp 33.5K
22.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40TMT 4.69
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-40.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.59TMT 8.67
$1.03Rp 18.2K
151.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09TMT 3.64
$0.55Rp 9,779
98.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.76TMT 86.3
$2.25Rp 39.7K
1044.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$40.58TMT 136
$23.81Rp 419.7K
70.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.11TMT 17.11
$2.31Rp 40.8K
121.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88TMT 9.65
$2.80Rp 49.4K
2.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14TMT 0.48
$0.27Rp 4,802
-48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.09TMT 33.80
$8.66Rp 152.7K
16.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76TMT 9.26
$0.48Rp 8,489
475.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82TMT 2.75
$0.45Rp 7,863
82.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.75TMT 29.31
$5.72Rp 100.8K
52.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.44TMT 1.49
$0.76Rp 13.4K
-42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6KTMT 146.1K
$24.5KRp 431.6M
78.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.1KTMT 194.6K
$32.1KRp 566.3M
80.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$577TMT 1,934
$83.6Rp 1.5M
590.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.5TMT 189
$6.46Rp 113.8K
775.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103TMT 344
$18.99Rp 334.8K
440.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$196TMT 657
$56.0Rp 986.8K
250.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.21TMT 148
$18.62Rp 328.2K
137.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.70TMT 29.14
$4.28Rp 75.5K
103.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$23.24TMT 77.8
$487Rp 8.6M
-95.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.7KTMT 82.8K
$5,856Rp 103.2M
321.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0TMT 184
$45.56Rp 803.2K
20.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$113TMT 378
$36.38Rp 641.4K
210.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$362TMT 1,212
$82.0Rp 1.4M
341.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$193TMT 645
$80.4Rp 1.4M
139.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,132TMT 3,793
$1,117Rp 19.7M
1.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$996TMT 3,337
$701Rp 12.4M
42.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,279TMT 7,636
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950TMT 6,532
$1,762Rp 31.1M
10.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,565TMT 11.9K
$2,826Rp 49.8M
26.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,854TMT 9,559
$2,292Rp 40.4M
24.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$737TMT 2,470
$170Rp 3.0M
334.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
13.78
-31.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashgabat: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,132 in Ashgabat and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashgabat pays 334% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Ashgabat vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $666 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Ashgabat vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ashgabat and in Ubud, Bali?
Ashgabat and Ubud, Bali differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($3,334 vs $1,396 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ashgabat or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 334% higher in Ashgabat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ashgabat and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,132 in Ashgabat versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ashgabat and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $23.24 in Ashgabat versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 127% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,334 in Ashgabat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ashgabat and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ashgabat or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ashgabat 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.
Where should expats move: Ashgabat or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.