🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Smolyan versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Smolyan versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Smolyan versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Smolyan costs roughly 46% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Smolyan is 46% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.45BGN 10.73
$3.44Rp 61.0K
87.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.80BGN 64.6
$36.31Rp 644.2K
6.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.77BGN 9.59
$5.71Rp 101.2K
1.05%
Cappuccino
$1.36BGN 2.26
$2.67Rp 47.4K
-49.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07BGN 1.79
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-38.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76BGN 1.27
$0.87Rp 15.5K
-12.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75BGN 2.92
$2.95Rp 52.4K
-40.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24BGN 3.72
$4.52Rp 80.2K
-50.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68BGN 2.80
$1.62Rp 28.7K
3.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96BGN 1.60
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-58.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79BGN 2.98
$1.11Rp 19.6K
61.26%
Eggs
$3.39BGN 5.64
$2.20Rp 39.0K
54.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10BGN 15.13
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-48.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84BGN 9.72
$4.10Rp 72.7K
42.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.77BGN 14.60
$12.18Rp 216.0K
-28.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$3.71Rp 65.8K
-68.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82BGN 3.03
$1.59Rp 28.2K
14.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.21BGN 2.02
$2.28Rp 40.5K
-46.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42BGN 4.03
$1.95Rp 34.7K
24.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19BGN 1.98
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-37.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40BGN 2.34
$2.33Rp 41.4K
-39.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96BGN 1.60
$1.01Rp 17.9K
-4.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61BGN 1.01
$0.55Rp 9,791
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50BGN 5.82
$2.23Rp 39.6K
56.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.76BGN 9.58
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-75.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58BGN 0.96
$2.42Rp 42.9K
-76.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76BGN 2.93
$3.00Rp 53.2K
-41.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95BGN 1.59
$0.27Rp 4,823
251.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.79BGN 56.2
$8.98Rp 159.4K
276.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36BGN 2.27
$0.48Rp 8,582
183.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60BGN 1.00
$0.43Rp 7,693
39.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.24BGN 20.36
$5.64Rp 100.1K
117.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58BGN 2.63
$0.80Rp 14.3K
97.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5KBGN 39.1K
$24.9KRp 442.5M
-5.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KBGN 38.5K
$31.7KRp 562.6M
-26.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108BGN 180
$81.5Rp 1.4M
32.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.20BGN 25.29
$6.49Rp 115.2K
134.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.59BGN 15.96
$18.77Rp 333.0K
-48.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.33BGN 37.15
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-60.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.52BGN 29.15
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-6.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85BGN 13.06
$4.54Rp 80.5K
72.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$233BGN 388
$481Rp 8.5M
-51.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,090BGN 10.1K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
6.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.68BGN 49.37
$45.52Rp 807.5K
-34.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.28BGN 37.06
$35.88Rp 636.6K
-37.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.7BGN 104
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-21.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.1BGN 108
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-17.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203BGN 337
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-81.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$147BGN 245
$698Rp 12.4M
-78.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$292BGN 485
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-91.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$253BGN 421
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-85.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,376BGN 2,290
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-50.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,108BGN 1,843
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-51.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720BGN 1,198
$168Rp 3.0M
328.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
13.78
-76.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Smolyan: September 15, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Smolyan and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Smolyan pays 329% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Smolyan vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $295, with Smolyan cheaper for home cooking.
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
Smolyan vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Smolyan?
Smolyan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Smolyan or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 329% higher in Smolyan, 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 Smolyan and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Smolyan versus $1,115 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 $233 in Smolyan versus $481 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 Smolyan and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% 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 Smolyan or in Ubud, Bali?
At $736 in Smolyan versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Smolyan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Smolyan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Smolyan or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Smolyan 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, Smolyan or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Smolyan 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 Smolyan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.