😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,178 in Ashgabat versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,791 in Ashgabat versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,405 in Ashgabat versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Ashgabat is roughly 124% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashgabat137% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.57TMT 116
$3.56Rp 63.7K
871.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5TMT 284
$32.73Rp 584.5K
158.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.03TMT 47.15
$4.95Rp 88.4K
183.43%
Cappuccino
$6.85TMT 23.02
$2.71Rp 48.4K
152.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28TMT 11.03
$1.34Rp 24.0K
144.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94TMT 3.17
$0.70Rp 12.5K
34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.17TMT 17.38
$2.92Rp 52.1K
77.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$14.45TMT 48.56
$3.96Rp 70.7K
264.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.78TMT 16.05
$1.81Rp 32.3K
164.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45TMT 8.25
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-2.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.14TMT 23.99
$1.16Rp 20.7K
515.52%
Eggs
$6.07TMT 20.39
$2.46Rp 43.9K
146.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$40.72TMT 137
$14.71Rp 262.7K
176.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.21TMT 61.2
$4.32Rp 77.1K
321.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.32TMT 61.6
$12.14Rp 216.7K
50.91%
Apples(1kg)
$5.58TMT 18.75
$3.84Rp 68.6K
45.31%
Banana(1kg)
$8.68TMT 29.17
$1.56Rp 27.8K
456.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.52TMT 25.26
$2.83Rp 50.6K
165.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56TMT 11.98
$2.33Rp 41.5K
52.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24TMT 7.52
$1.91Rp 34.2K
17.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82TMT 6.10
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-17.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97TMT 6.63
$1.01Rp 18.1K
95.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08TMT 3.63
$0.78Rp 13.8K
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.93TMT 87.1
$3.32Rp 59.2K
681.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.52TMT 140
$23.74Rp 423.9K
74.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.62TMT 15.51
$2.79Rp 49.8K
65.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85TMT 9.56
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14TMT 0.48
$0.27Rp 4,800
-48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58TMT 28.84
$8.03Rp 143.4K
6.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93TMT 9.85
$0.46Rp 8,150
536.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88TMT 2.95
$0.45Rp 8,037
95.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80TMT 29.57
$6.10Rp 108.9K
44.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.42TMT 1.40
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-46.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.7KTMT 150.3K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
71.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.6KTMT 193.5K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
79.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$565TMT 1,898
$79.9Rp 1.4M
606.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.7TMT 191
$4.06Rp 72.6K
1297.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103TMT 347
$23.52Rp 420.0K
339.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$192TMT 645
$98.7Rp 1.8M
94.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.56TMT 150
$6.63Rp 118.4K
572.10%
Cinema Ticket
$14.24TMT 47.86
$4.15Rp 74.1K
243.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$23.29TMT 78.3
$304Rp 5.4M
-92.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$26.2KTMT 87.9K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
295.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8TMT 218
$55.5Rp 991.8K
16.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$122TMT 411
$38.31Rp 684.1K
219.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$305TMT 1,025
$88.6Rp 1.6M
244.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187TMT 629
$77.9Rp 1.4M
140.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,132TMT 3,804
$1,006Rp 18.0M
12.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$736TMT 2,474
$675Rp 12.1M
9.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,786TMT 6,000
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-48.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,588TMT 5,336
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-22.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,519TMT 11.8K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
23.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,912TMT 9,783
$2,264Rp 40.4M
28.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$742TMT 2,494
$165Rp 3.0M
349.20%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,132 in Ashgabat and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashgabat pays 349% 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: $84.0 in Ashgabat vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $664 vs $302 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 Ubud, Bali?
Ashgabat and Ubud, Bali differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($3,178 vs $1,419 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?
Ashgabat pays 349% more on average, 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,132 in Ashgabat versus $1,006 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 $23.29 in Ashgabat versus $304 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 120% 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,178 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.