Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ashgabat

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $3,367 in Ashgabat, rent and utilities included – about $24,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Ashgabat
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
$3,367
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Ashgabat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Ashgabat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,367 in Ashgabat.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Ashgabat $3,367

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,093 in Ashgabat.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Ashgabat $5,093

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,820 in Ashgabat.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Ashgabat $6,820

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 60% less than in Ashgabat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Ashgabat 148% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$30.92 TMT 104
-89.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$86.5 TMT 290
-59.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$13.08 TMT 43.94
-56.42%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$6.94 TMT 23.33
-62.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$1.58 TMT 5.32
8.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.84 TMT 2.83
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$5.78 TMT 19.42
-54.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$13.40 TMT 45.02
-67.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$4.41 TMT 14.82
-64.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$2.05 TMT 6.90
6.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$5.99 TMT 20.12
-80.30%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$5.85 TMT 19.65
-63.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$37.82 TMT 127
-53.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$19.59 TMT 65.8
-80.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$23.05 TMT 77.4
-48.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$5.19 TMT 17.45
-30.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$8.41 TMT 28.24
-81.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$7.69 TMT 25.83
-69.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$3.57 TMT 11.99
-46.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$2.31 TMT 7.74
-22.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.42 TMT 4.76
64.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$2.72 TMT 9.15
-63.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$1.10 TMT 3.69
-51.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$25.46 TMT 85.6
-91.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$41.36 TMT 139
-46.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$5.16 TMT 17.35
-54.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.91 TMT 9.77
2.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.14 TMT 0.47
64.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
$10.01 TMT 33.62
-11.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$2.83 TMT 9.50
-83.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$0.84 TMT 2.84
-48.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$8.49 TMT 28.54
-35.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$0.44 TMT 1.50
88.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$44.2K TMT 148.4K
-45.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$56.7K TMT 190.4K
-42.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$567 TMT 1,905
-85.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$56.8 TMT 191
-88.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$103 TMT 345
-81.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$192 TMT 645
-71.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$43.98 TMT 148
-58.44%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$8.78 TMT 29.50
-51.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$23.20 TMT 77.9
2023.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$24.9K TMT 83.6K
-77.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$56.1 TMT 189
-18.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$115 TMT 385
-69.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$368 TMT 1,238
-78.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$195 TMT 655
-59.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$1,412 TMT 4,745
-19.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$982 TMT 3,298
-31.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$2,273 TMT 7,636
58.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$1,959 TMT 6,582
-13.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$3,585 TMT 12.0K
-24.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$2,851 TMT 9,580
-21.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ashgabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$738 TMT 2,478
-77.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.5
45.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ashgabat: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Ashgabat
$982 45.9% $309
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Ashgabat
$666 132% $379
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Ashgabat
$330 210% $224
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Ashgabat
$435 309% $329
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Ashgabat
$727 591% $621
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Ashgabat
$210 235% $147
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Ashgabat
$18 41.7% $5.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $1,412 in Ashgabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashgabat pays 343% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $86.0 in Ashgabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $666 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇹🇲 Ashgabat
🕒 Local time
22:21 10:21 PM
19:21 7:21 PM
3 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
909,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

TMT, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Turkmenistani Manat exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.36 TMT (1 TMT = 0.298 USD). 1 EUR = 3.78 TMT (1 TMT = 0.265 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Ashgabat 7,830 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Ashgabat

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ubud, Bali vs Ashgabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Ashgabat?
Ubud, Bali and Ashgabat differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($1,353 vs $3,367 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 343% lower in Ashgabat. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Ashgabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,412 in Ashgabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Ashgabat?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $23.20 in Ashgabat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 132% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,367 in Ashgabat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Ashgabat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ashgabat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ashgabat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Ashgabat?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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