Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lanzhou and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Lanzhou: $719 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lanzhou
🇨🇳 China
$719
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lanzhou and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lanzhou and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in Lanzhou versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Lanzhou $719
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,143 in Lanzhou versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Lanzhou $1,143
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Lanzhou versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Lanzhou $1,567
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Lanzhou costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lanzhou is 47% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ¥13.80
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
-38.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.34 ¥189
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
-19.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 ¥39.15
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
1.03%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥20.89
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.19
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-70.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-65.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 ¥7.35
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-59.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 ¥13.54
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-53.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ¥11.81
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
18.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 ¥10.75
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.40
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-18.64%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥10.72
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-25.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 ¥88.4
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-24.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ¥22.92
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
-14.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 ¥81.0
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-0.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.09
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-49.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 ¥8.56
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-18.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 ¥9.97
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-33.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.32
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-35.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ¥4.70
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-62.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.21
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-59.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ¥3.99
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
-39.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.70
$0.53 Rp 9,475
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77 ¥25.19
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
65.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.52 ¥77.0
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-49.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.52
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-64.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ¥10.25
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-47.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$0.24 Rp 4,315
20.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.07 ¥121
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
104.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ¥9.91
$0.48 Rp 8,684
208.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ¥2.17
$0.46 Rp 8,233
-30.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.12 ¥47.58
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
30.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ¥9.73
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
65.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ¥117.2K
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
-28.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K ¥100.4K
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-51.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.0 ¥388
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-30.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 ¥58.8
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
36.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.18 ¥74.8
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
-39.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.33 ¥283
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-24.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.69 ¥98.2
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-18.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29 ¥42.06
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
43.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$412 ¥2,756
$493 Rp 8.9M
-16.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K ¥117.6K
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
205.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.85 ¥287
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-7.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.44 ¥224
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-5.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.6 ¥505
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-4.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1 ¥495
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-5.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$295 ¥1,971
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-74.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$168 ¥1,126
$676 Rp 12.2M
-75.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ¥4,186
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-82.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 ¥1,986
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-82.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,671 ¥17.9K
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-4.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,611 ¥10.8K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-28.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lanzhou
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$953 ¥6,375
$165 Rp 3.0M
479.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
13.78
-78.23%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lanzhou: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Lanzhou
$209
Ubud, Bali
$290 38.8% $81
Accommodation & Living
Lanzhou
$168
Ubud, Bali
$676 301% $507
Clothing & Footwear
Lanzhou
$102
Ubud, Bali
$108 5.8% $5.9
Eating Out
Lanzhou
$84
Ubud, Bali
$109 29.2% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lanzhou
$78
Ubud, Bali
$108 38.5% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Lanzhou
$55
Ubud, Bali
$65 17.6% $9.7
Getting Around
Lanzhou
$22
Ubud, Bali
$13 43.8% $9.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $295 in Lanzhou and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lanzhou pays 479% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Lanzhou vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $290 per month, with Lanzhou cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Lanzhou
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
16:42 4:42 PM
16:42 4:42 PM
Same time as Lanzhou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,688,400
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lanzhou Ubud, Bali 5,100 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lanzhou
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lanzhou vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Lanzhou?
Lanzhou is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lanzhou or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 479% higher in Lanzhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lanzhou and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $295 in Lanzhou versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $412 in Lanzhou versus $493 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lanzhou and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lanzhou or in Ubud, Bali?
At $719 in Lanzhou versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lanzhou but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Lanzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lanzhou or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Lanzhou 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, Lanzhou or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Lanzhou 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 Lanzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lanzhou vs other spots: cost of living compared

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