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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $632 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,023 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,413 in Samarkand, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 118% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Samarkand is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$6.91 UZS 81.2K
-51.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$19.86 UZS 233.6K
80.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$4.78 UZS 56.2K
17.78%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$2.47 UZS 29.1K
14.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$0.69 UZS 8,116
153.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$0.19 UZS 2,217
321.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$1.50 UZS 17.6K
102.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$2.23 UZS 26.2K
92.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$1.08 UZS 12.8K
49.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$0.33 UZS 3,834
587.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$1.63 UZS 19.2K
-28.22%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$1.39 UZS 16.3K
56.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$8.28 UZS 97.4K
112.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$4.38 UZS 51.5K
-7.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$10.63 UZS 125.0K
14.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$0.81 UZS 9,513
346.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.83 UZS 21.5K
-10.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$1.75 UZS 20.6K
32.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$1.73 UZS 20.3K
13.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$0.49 UZS 5,748
275.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$0.17 UZS 2,013
1294.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$0.24 UZS 2,814
337.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.40 UZS 4,720
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$1.67 UZS 19.7K
37.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$3.32 UZS 39.0K
595.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$0.99 UZS 11.7K
136.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$2.14 UZS 25.1K
43.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$0.26 UZS 3,066
-3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$3.32 UZS 39.1K
183.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$0.37 UZS 4,311
32.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$0.32 UZS 3,804
46.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$3.40 UZS 39.9K
64.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.10 UZS 12.9K
-26.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$16.9K UZS 198.4M
48.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$24.2K UZS 284.8M
28.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$43.06 UZS 506.4K
92.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$3.86 UZS 45.4K
68.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$13.68 UZS 160.9K
37.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$39.94 UZS 469.7K
38.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$6.94 UZS 81.6K
162.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$3.22 UZS 37.8K
33.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$331 UZS 3.9M
49.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$7,569 UZS 89.0M
-21.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$20.85 UZS 245.2K
121.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$43.23 UZS 508.4K
-15.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$76.5 UZS 899.8K
5.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$59.5 UZS 699.3K
32.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$250 UZS 2.9M
345.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$166 UZS 2.0M
317.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$469 UZS 5.5M
675.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$319 UZS 3.8M
436.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$1,263 UZS 14.9M
118.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$558 UZS 6.6M
310.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$311 UZS 3.7M
-46.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
23.31
-40.88%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $250 in Samarkand. 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 86% higher in Samarkand, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $20.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $159 – making Samarkand 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 Samarkand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samarkand cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $948 in Samarkand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarkand, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Samarkand?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $632 in Samarkand. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 184% less in Samarkand. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Samarkand?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Samarkand it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Samarkand more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Samarkand – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Samarkand?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Samarkand. 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.

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