😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,149 in Ashgabat versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,892 in Ashgabat versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,636 in Ashgabat versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ashgabat is roughly 124% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashgabat136% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.40TMT 116
$3.45Rp 62.0K
897.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.5TMT 287
$32.34Rp 580.1K
164.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.22TMT 47.77
$4.84Rp 86.9K
193.80%
Cappuccino
$7.19TMT 24.17
$2.75Rp 49.3K
161.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17TMT 10.67
$1.38Rp 24.8K
129.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94TMT 3.16
$0.75Rp 13.5K
25.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.28TMT 17.74
$2.99Rp 53.7K
76.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$14.19TMT 47.67
$3.85Rp 69.1K
268.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.85TMT 16.29
$1.74Rp 31.1K
178.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43TMT 8.18
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-1.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.15TMT 24.02
$1.17Rp 21.0K
511.11%
Eggs
$6.12TMT 20.57
$2.43Rp 43.6K
151.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$40.33TMT 136
$14.50Rp 260.2K
178.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.24TMT 61.3
$4.35Rp 78.0K
319.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.50TMT 62.2
$11.98Rp 214.9K
54.42%
Apples(1kg)
$5.59TMT 18.77
$3.72Rp 66.7K
50.27%
Banana(1kg)
$9.01TMT 30.27
$1.63Rp 29.2K
452.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.83TMT 26.32
$2.74Rp 49.2K
185.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62TMT 12.17
$2.24Rp 40.2K
61.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25TMT 7.57
$1.92Rp 34.4K
17.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83TMT 6.14
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-19.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98TMT 6.65
$1.06Rp 19.1K
86.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14TMT 3.82
$0.72Rp 12.9K
58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.11TMT 87.7
$3.29Rp 58.9K
693.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.56TMT 140
$23.19Rp 416.1K
79.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69TMT 15.75
$2.78Rp 49.8K
68.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80TMT 9.41
$2.73Rp 49.0K
2.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16TMT 0.53
$0.27Rp 4,778
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37TMT 28.12
$8.11Rp 145.4K
3.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84TMT 9.56
$0.48Rp 8,659
491.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83TMT 2.78
$0.42Rp 7,532
97.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80TMT 29.57
$6.22Rp 111.6K
41.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.45TMT 1.50
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8KTMT 150.5K
$26.6KRp 477.4M
68.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.2KTMT 192.1K
$32.2KRp 577.4M
77.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$569TMT 1,911
$78.4Rp 1.4M
625.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.6TMT 194
$4.07Rp 73.0K
1314.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103TMT 345
$24.33Rp 436.4K
322.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$195TMT 657
$98.6Rp 1.8M
98.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.83TMT 151
$6.34Rp 113.7K
607.10%
Cinema Ticket
$14.37TMT 48.27
$3.99Rp 71.5K
260.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$22.96TMT 77.2
$305Rp 5.5M
-92.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.2KTMT 84.8K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
280.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5TMT 223
$54.1Rp 971.2K
22.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$121TMT 407
$37.81Rp 678.2K
220.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$304TMT 1,021
$86.8Rp 1.6M
249.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187TMT 627
$76.4Rp 1.4M
144.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,109TMT 3,726
$992Rp 17.8M
11.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739TMT 2,482
$673Rp 12.1M
9.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,797TMT 6,038
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-46.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,578TMT 5,301
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-23.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,489TMT 11.7K
$2,805Rp 50.3M
24.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,850TMT 9,575
$2,227Rp 39.9M
27.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$763TMT 2,564
$167Rp 3.0M
356.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
13.28
-28.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashgabat: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,109 in Ashgabat and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashgabat pays 357% 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: $86.0 in Ashgabat vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $669 vs $297 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 124% in total monthly costs ($3,149 vs $1,408 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 357% 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: $1,109 in Ashgabat versus $992 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 $22.96 in Ashgabat versus $305 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 125% 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,149 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 124% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.