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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $540 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $884 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,228 in Samarkand, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 160% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Samarkand is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.1K
$4.52 UZS 54.5K
-21.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 584.0K
$17.65 UZS 212.6K
84.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.4K
$4.30 UZS 51.8K
13.02%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$1.75 UZS 21.1K
57.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.8K
$0.42 UZS 5,078
214.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.25 UZS 3,001
180.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.3K
$1.30 UZS 15.6K
123.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.2K
$2.01 UZS 24.2K
88.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.7K
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
69.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.5K
$0.41 UZS 4,926
502.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.6K
$1.58 UZS 19.0K
-24.05%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.9K
$1.32 UZS 15.9K
84.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 258.4K
$7.65 UZS 92.2K
87.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.3K
$3.71 UZS 44.7K
16.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 219.4K
$8.75 UZS 105.4K
39.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.2K
$0.76 UZS 9,206
384.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.9K
$1.69 UZS 20.4K
-8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.1K
$1.62 UZS 19.5K
72.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.52 UZS 18.4K
53.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.4K
$0.48 UZS 5,794
310.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.5K
$0.16 UZS 1,932
1343.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.25 UZS 3,029
324.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.40 UZS 4,837
82.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.9K
$1.59 UZS 19.2K
106.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 409.5K
$3.37 UZS 40.6K
576.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.4K
$0.97 UZS 11.7K
189.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 50.0K
$1.99 UZS 24.0K
39.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,232
$0.25 UZS 3,016
16.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.8K
$3.18 UZS 38.3K
153.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,069
$0.38 UZS 4,539
18.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,117
$0.19 UZS 2,317
136.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 112.1K
$2.34 UZS 28.1K
166.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.95 UZS 11.5K
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 466.7M
$20.1K UZS 241.9M
29.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 568.8M
$25.2K UZS 304.1M
25.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$38.86 UZS 468.2K
107.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$3.67 UZS 44.3K
10.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 438.8K
$11.65 UZS 140.4K
109.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.8M
$36.09 UZS 434.9K
170.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.8K
$6.13 UZS 73.9K
5.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.6K
$2.88 UZS 34.7K
40.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$117 UZS 1.4M
159.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 119.0M
$4,734 UZS 57.0M
39.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 974.4K
$19.72 UZS 237.6K
175.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 696.6K
$39.41 UZS 474.8K
-1.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$71.3 UZS 858.7K
20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$54.6 UZS 658.2K
40.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$230 UZS 2.8M
328.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$129 UZS 1.6M
411.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.5M
$440 UZS 5.3M
666.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.1M
$296 UZS 3.6M
598.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.3M
$1,229 UZS 14.8M
123.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 40.0M
$533 UZS 6.4M
317.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$306 UZS 3.7M
-46.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
22.07
-39.83%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $230 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 87% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $145 – 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 160%, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $809 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 vs Samarkand?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $540 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 153% less in Samarkand. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Samarkand?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $540, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities