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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $788 in Dushanbe, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,191 in Dushanbe, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,594 in Dushanbe, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 79% more than Dushanbe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Dushanbe is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

$6.06 TJS 56.1

-43.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

$15.07 TJS 139

114.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

$8.81 TJS 81.5

-45.06%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

$2.02 TJS 18.67

36.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.62 TJS 5.77

122.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$0.30 TJS 2.77

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

$1.22 TJS 11.26

145.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

$2.04 TJS 18.85

88.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$0.98 TJS 9.06

77.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

$0.57 TJS 5.27

331.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

$1.95 TJS 18.05

-40.00%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

$1.86 TJS 17.16

30.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

$9.18 TJS 84.9

57.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

$4.46 TJS 41.22

-2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

$9.28 TJS 85.9

29.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

$1.71 TJS 15.86

117.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$2.56 TJS 23.72

-36.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

$2.55 TJS 23.62

7.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

$1.29 TJS 11.95

73.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

$0.79 TJS 7.32

143.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

$0.55 TJS 5.07

314.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

$0.79 TJS 7.27

34.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.64 TJS 5.89

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

$2.52 TJS 23.35

30.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

$11.28 TJS 104

105.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

$1.43 TJS 13.27

94.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

$2.23 TJS 20.59

22.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,765

$0.26 TJS 2.42

3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

$9.98 TJS 92.3

-18.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,636

$0.97 TJS 8.96

-50.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,511

$0.27 TJS 2.49

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

$5.91 TJS 54.7

5.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.98 TJS 9.04

-17.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

$18.4K TJS 170.5K

44.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

$25.9K TJS 239.6K

24.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$50.9 TJS 470

54.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

$13.67 TJS 126

-70.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

$23.90 TJS 221

1.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$39.81 TJS 368

147.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

$9.08 TJS 84.0

-30.18%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

$4.98 TJS 46.08

-19.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$101 TJS 930

203.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

$14.3K TJS 132.2K

-53.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

$30.38 TJS 281

78.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

$38.49 TJS 356

-1.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$75.5 TJS 698

15.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$54.2 TJS 502

40.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.7M

$445 TJS 4,118

122.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.0M

$235 TJS 2,175

186.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

$760 TJS 7,032

343.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

$416 TJS 3,847

392.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

$1,301 TJS 12.0K

115.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

$695 TJS 6,426

220.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$436 TJS 4,029

-61.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

25.75

-48.43%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Dushanbe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $445 in Dushanbe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 161% higher in Dushanbe, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Dushanbe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $197 – making Dushanbe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dushanbe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,182 in Dushanbe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dushanbe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $101 in Dushanbe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dushanbe, where all-in costs run around $788, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Dushanbe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dushanbe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dushanbe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.