Cost of Living Comparison Between Smolyan and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Smolyan and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$6.45 BGN 10.73
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
87.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.80 BGN 64.6
$36.31 Rp 644.2K
6.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.77 BGN 9.59
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
1.05%
Cappuccino
$1.36 BGN 2.26
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
-49.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 BGN 1.79
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-38.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 BGN 1.27
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
-12.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 BGN 2.92
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
-40.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 BGN 3.72
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
-50.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 BGN 2.80
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 BGN 1.60
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-58.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 BGN 2.98
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
61.26%
Eggs
$3.39 BGN 5.64
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
54.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 BGN 15.13
$17.69 Rp 313.9K
-48.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 BGN 9.72
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
42.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.77 BGN 14.60
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
-28.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 BGN 1.94
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
-68.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 BGN 3.03
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
14.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 BGN 2.02
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
-46.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 BGN 4.03
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
24.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 BGN 1.98
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
-37.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 BGN 2.34
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
-39.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 BGN 1.60
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
-4.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 BGN 1.01
$0.55 Rp 9,791
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50 BGN 5.82
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
56.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.76 BGN 9.58
$23.07 Rp 409.3K
-75.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 BGN 0.96
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
-76.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 BGN 2.93
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
-41.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 BGN 1.59
$0.27 Rp 4,823
251.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.79 BGN 56.2
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
276.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 BGN 2.27
$0.48 Rp 8,582
183.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 BGN 1.00
$0.43 Rp 7,693
39.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.24 BGN 20.36
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
117.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 BGN 2.63
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
97.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K BGN 39.1K
$24.9K Rp 442.5M
-5.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K BGN 38.5K
$31.7K Rp 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)
$108 BGN 180
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
32.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.20 BGN 25.29
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
134.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.59 BGN 15.96
$18.77 Rp 333.0K
-48.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.33 BGN 37.15
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-60.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.52 BGN 29.15
$18.73 Rp 332.3K
-6.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 BGN 13.06
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
72.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 BGN 388
$481 Rp 8.5M
-51.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,090 BGN 10.1K
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
6.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.68 BGN 49.37
$45.52 Rp 807.5K
-34.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.28 BGN 37.06
$35.88 Rp 636.6K
-37.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.7 BGN 104
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-21.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.1 BGN 108
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-17.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 BGN 337
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
-81.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 BGN 245
$698 Rp 12.4M
-78.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$292 BGN 485
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-91.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 BGN 421
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-85.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,376 BGN 2,290
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-50.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,108 BGN 1,843
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
-51.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 BGN 1,198
$168 Rp 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.

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