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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $789 in Dushanbe, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,206 in Dushanbe, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,624 in Dushanbe, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 80% more than Dushanbe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Dushanbe is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$5.80 TJS 53.6

-38.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$15.03 TJS 139

117.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$8.70 TJS 80.4

-43.10%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.06 TJS 19.07

31.55%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.67 TJS 6.18

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.32 TJS 2.98

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.16 TJS 10.70

151.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.00 TJS 18.49

98.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.98 TJS 9.08

84.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.57 TJS 5.29

342.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.91 TJS 17.69

-39.27%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.79 TJS 16.55

37.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$8.98 TJS 83.0

63.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$4.58 TJS 42.36

-5.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$9.09 TJS 84.0

33.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.67 TJS 15.44

129.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$2.62 TJS 24.18

-40.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$2.55 TJS 23.56

10.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.28 TJS 11.83

82.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.74 TJS 6.83

158.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.58 TJS 5.36

279.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.83 TJS 7.69

21.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.63 TJS 5.84

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.46 TJS 22.71

34.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$10.33 TJS 95.5

129.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.50 TJS 13.84

86.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$2.25 TJS 20.76

27.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.24 TJS 2.21

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$10.06 TJS 93.0

-20.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.00 TJS 9.26

-54.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.27 TJS 2.47

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$6.09 TJS 56.3

0.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.97 TJS 8.94

-18.56%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$18.1K TJS 167.7K

44.10%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$25.8K TJS 238.3K

24.58%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$50.7 TJS 468

57.80%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$13.45 TJS 124

-69.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$24.21 TJS 224

-2.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$40.00 TJS 370

146.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$8.91 TJS 82.4

-25.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$4.89 TJS 45.22

-15.13%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$102 TJS 941

198.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$14.4K TJS 132.9K

-53.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$30.80 TJS 285

80.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$38.42 TJS 355

-0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$74.9 TJS 692

18.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$55.2 TJS 510

41.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$439 TJS 4,056

129.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$230 TJS 2,129

193.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$733 TJS 6,778

369.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$419 TJS 3,873

386.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,257 TJS 11.6K

126.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$711 TJS 6,570

218.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$478 TJS 4,417

-65.42%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Dushanbe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $439 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 189% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Dushanbe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $195 – 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 80%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,183 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 $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $102 in Dushanbe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 $789, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.