🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Smolyan versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,231 in Smolyan versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,685 in Smolyan versus $3,732 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 42% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.62BGN 11.06
$3.57Rp 61.9K
85.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.99BGN 63.5
$32.58Rp 564.7K
16.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.78BGN 9.65
$5.07Rp 87.8K
14.00%
Cappuccino
$1.37BGN 2.28
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-51.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30BGN 2.17
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-2.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05BGN 1.76
$0.69Rp 12.0K
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74BGN 2.90
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-41.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16BGN 3.61
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-43.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81BGN 3.02
$1.74Rp 30.2K
4.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96BGN 1.60
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-62.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73BGN 2.89
$1.19Rp 20.6K
45.38%
Eggs
$3.64BGN 6.08
$2.43Rp 42.0K
49.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.52BGN 17.56
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-28.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.98BGN 9.99
$4.18Rp 72.4K
43.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.10BGN 15.20
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-23.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22BGN 2.03
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-66.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80BGN 3.01
$1.61Rp 27.8K
11.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15BGN 1.92
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-57.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43BGN 4.05
$2.33Rp 40.4K
4.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16BGN 1.93
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-39.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43BGN 2.39
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-34.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19BGN 1.99
$1.06Rp 18.3K
12.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58BGN 0.97
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.59BGN 6.00
$3.13Rp 54.3K
14.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.89BGN 9.84
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-74.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.57BGN 0.95
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-79.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67BGN 2.78
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-42.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97BGN 1.63
$0.29Rp 5,029
234.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.28BGN 57.2
$8.17Rp 141.6K
319.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17BGN 1.95
$0.45Rp 7,863
160.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51BGN 0.85
$0.42Rp 7,305
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.01BGN 20.05
$6.16Rp 106.7K
94.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50BGN 2.51
$0.84Rp 14.6K
78.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KBGN 39.6K
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-9.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KBGN 40.8K
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-24.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120BGN 201
$78.4Rp 1.4M
53.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.25BGN 27.14
$3.95Rp 68.5K
311.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.26BGN 15.47
$24.40Rp 423.0K
-62.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.30BGN 37.24
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-76.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00BGN 25.05
$6.35Rp 110.0K
136.22%
Cinema Ticket
$7.01BGN 11.70
$4.04Rp 70.0K
73.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318BGN 532
$303Rp 5.2M
5.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,509BGN 9,200
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-15.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.08BGN 50.2
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-44.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.09BGN 36.89
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-41.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.8BGN 105
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-27.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5BGN 109
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-16.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203BGN 339
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-79.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145BGN 243
$674Rp 11.7M
-78.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$297BGN 495
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-91.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252BGN 420
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-88.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,398BGN 2,334
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-53.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,109BGN 1,852
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-52.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Smolyan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$706BGN 1,180
$173Rp 3.0M
307.99%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Smolyan and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Smolyan pays 308% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Smolyan vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $298, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Smolyan or Ubud, Bali?
Smolyan pays 308% 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: $203 in Smolyan versus $1,012 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 $318 in Smolyan versus $303 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 $777 in Smolyan versus $1,438 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 85% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.