🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Smolyan versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,188 in Smolyan versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Smolyan versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Smolyan costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Smolyan is 44% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.35BGN 10.56
$3.57Rp 64.0K
77.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.53BGN 64.1
$32.50Rp 582.3K
18.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.83BGN 9.71
$4.86Rp 87.1K
19.96%
Cappuccino
$1.31BGN 2.18
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-52.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29BGN 2.15
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-2.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00BGN 1.66
$0.70Rp 12.6K
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76BGN 2.92
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-39.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15BGN 3.58
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-43.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73BGN 2.88
$1.71Rp 30.6K
1.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93BGN 1.54
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-62.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72BGN 2.87
$1.20Rp 21.5K
43.33%
Eggs
$3.64BGN 6.06
$2.44Rp 43.8K
49.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.77BGN 17.91
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-25.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07BGN 10.10
$4.31Rp 77.1K
40.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11BGN 15.15
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-25.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15BGN 1.91
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-68.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82BGN 3.02
$1.55Rp 27.8K
17.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16BGN 1.93
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-58.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40BGN 3.99
$2.33Rp 41.8K
3.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-40.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38BGN 2.30
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-40.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$1.06Rp 19.1K
13.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58BGN 0.96
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-20.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53BGN 5.87
$3.28Rp 58.8K
7.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91BGN 9.84
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-74.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58BGN 0.96
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-79.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66BGN 2.77
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-40.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$0.29Rp 5,217
213.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.01BGN 56.6
$8.06Rp 144.4K
321.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$0.45Rp 8,047
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54BGN 0.90
$0.45Rp 8,094
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.76BGN 19.57
$6.24Rp 111.7K
88.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57BGN 2.61
$0.85Rp 15.2K
84.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KBGN 38.7K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-10.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KBGN 40.5K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-23.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117BGN 194
$80.8Rp 1.4M
44.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.40BGN 27.29
$4.06Rp 72.7K
303.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.40BGN 15.64
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-61.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.99BGN 38.25
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-76.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.72BGN 24.49
$6.45Rp 115.5K
128.22%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13BGN 11.87
$4.04Rp 72.4K
76.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326BGN 543
$304Rp 5.4M
7.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,464BGN 9,089
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-17.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.11BGN 48.44
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-46.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.40BGN 37.27
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-42.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.0BGN 101
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-29.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9BGN 106
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-16.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$209BGN 347
$986Rp 17.7M
-78.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145BGN 241
$658Rp 11.8M
-77.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290BGN 482
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-91.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248BGN 413
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-88.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,327BGN 2,208
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-51.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,115BGN 1,855
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-49.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$717BGN 1,192
$163Rp 2.9M
338.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
13.28
-66.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Smolyan: June 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Smolyan and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Smolyan pays 339% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $297, 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 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Smolyan or Ubud, Bali?
Smolyan pays 339% more on average, 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: $209 in Smolyan versus $986 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 $326 in Smolyan versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% 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 Smolyan or Ubud, Bali?
At $751 in Smolyan versus $1,404 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 87% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.