🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $590 in Taiyuan versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $901 in Taiyuan versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,213 in Taiyuan versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Taiyuan costs roughly 58% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Taiyuan is 57% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29¥15.36
$3.37Rp 59.8K
-32.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.09¥101
$38.59Rp 683.8K
-60.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.41¥29.62
$5.52Rp 97.8K
-20.11%
Cappuccino
$2.53¥16.96
$2.64Rp 46.9K
-4.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.12
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-71.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.92
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-62.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22¥8.19
$2.63Rp 46.7K
-53.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09¥14.06
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-51.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.55Rp 27.4K
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82¥5.49
$1.13Rp 19.9K
-27.43%
Eggs
$0.93¥6.22
$2.09Rp 37.0K
-55.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$17.39Rp 308.2K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.87Rp 68.5K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.84¥86.2
$12.55Rp 222.4K
2.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86¥12.51
$3.62Rp 64.1K
-48.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36¥9.14
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-12.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.79¥5.32
$2.35Rp 41.7K
-66.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17¥7.84
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-43.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49¥3.27
$1.90Rp 33.7K
-74.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31¥2.09
$2.34Rp 41.4K
-86.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.15
$0.55Rp 9,830
-14.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03¥20.36
$2.25Rp 39.9K
34.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59¥50.9
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-68.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥5.79
$2.31Rp 41.0K
-62.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52¥10.18
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-45.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31¥2.11
$0.27Rp 4,827
14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.63¥91.5
$8.66Rp 153.5K
57.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21¥8.14
$0.48Rp 8,533
152.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23¥1.54
$0.45Rp 7,904
-48.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.69¥24.73
$5.72Rp 101.4K
-35.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥7.93
$0.76Rp 13.4K
55.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥130.4K
$24.5KRp 433.9M
-20.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K¥116.7K
$32.1KRp 569.3M
-45.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.4¥620
$83.6Rp 1.5M
10.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.51¥70.5
$6.46Rp 114.4K
62.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.87¥86.3
$18.99Rp 336.6K
-32.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.23¥297
$56.0Rp 992.0K
-20.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.74¥58.6
$18.62Rp 329.9K
-53.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77¥45.40
$4.28Rp 75.9K
58.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$487Rp 8.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,856Rp 103.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.66¥186
$45.56Rp 807.4K
-39.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.7¥447
$36.38Rp 644.7K
83.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6¥501
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-8.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4¥405
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-24.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$225¥1,507
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-79.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111¥746
$701Rp 12.4M
-84.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$540¥3,624
$3,537Rp 62.7M
-84.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$256¥1,716
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-85.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,606¥17.5K
$2,826Rp 50.1M
-7.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,246¥8,358
$2,292Rp 40.6M
-45.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiyuan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$940¥6,307
$170Rp 3.0M
453.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
13.78
-72.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taiyuan: August 29, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Taiyuan and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Taiyuan pays 454% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Taiyuan vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $293 per month, with Taiyuan cheaper across the board.
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
Taiyuan vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Taiyuan or Ubud, Bali?
Taiyuan wins on cost – living expenses run 137% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taiyuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Taiyuan or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 454% higher in Taiyuan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Taiyuan compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $225 in Taiyuan versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Taiyuan and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Taiyuan – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How expensive is transport in Taiyuan compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Taiyuan runs roughly 57% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Taiyuan or in Ubud, Bali?
At $590 in Taiyuan versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taiyuan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Taiyuan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Taiyuan or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Taiyuan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $590 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Taiyuan hard to pass up.
How safe is Taiyuan compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Taiyuan 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Taiyuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 137% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.