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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $539 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $895 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,251 in Samarkand, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 161% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
$4.72 UZS 57.1K
-27.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
$17.24 UZS 208.2K
91.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
$4.22 UZS 51.0K
20.38%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
$1.80 UZS 21.8K
56.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
$0.43 UZS 5,144
218.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$0.25 UZS 3,000
184.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
$1.28 UZS 15.4K
132.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
$2.00 UZS 24.2K
95.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
$1.05 UZS 12.7K
66.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
$0.38 UZS 4,575
563.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
$1.58 UZS 19.1K
-23.42%
Eggs
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$1.26 UZS 15.2K
84.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
$7.87 UZS 95.1K
84.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
$3.73 UZS 45.0K
16.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
$8.78 UZS 106.0K
37.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
$0.83 UZS 10.0K
360.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$1.74 UZS 21.0K
-7.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
$1.63 UZS 19.6K
65.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
$1.50 UZS 18.2K
48.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$0.48 UZS 5,817
295.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
$0.17 UZS 2,053
1182.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
$0.25 UZS 3,035
312.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$0.38 UZS 4,570
102.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
$1.61 UZS 19.4K
97.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
$3.22 UZS 38.9K
621.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
$0.96 UZS 11.6K
196.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
$2.02 UZS 24.4K
34.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,022
$0.25 UZS 3,034
16.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
$3.08 UZS 37.3K
173.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,344
$0.38 UZS 4,586
28.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,812
$0.18 UZS 2,159
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
$2.33 UZS 28.1K
169.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
$0.94 UZS 11.4K
-9.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
$20.0K UZS 241.3M
30.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
$24.8K UZS 299.2M
27.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
$38.84 UZS 469.1K
105.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
$3.58 UZS 43.2K
14.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
$11.68 UZS 141.0K
105.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$36.27 UZS 438.1K
165.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
$6.40 UZS 77.3K
2.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
$2.95 UZS 35.6K
40.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.1M
$118 UZS 1.4M
151.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
$4,645 UZS 56.1M
43.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
$19.54 UZS 236.1K
181.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
$39.93 UZS 482.2K
-2.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
$71.2 UZS 860.0K
25.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$56.1 UZS 677.4K
40.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
$227 UZS 2.7M
348.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.3M
$129 UZS 1.6M
412.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
$431 UZS 5.2M
697.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
$298 UZS 3.6M
589.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
$1,248 UZS 15.1M
138.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
$546 UZS 6.6M
333.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rp 3.0M
$293 UZS 3.5M
-41.37%
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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $227 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 71% 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $17 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 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 161%, 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 $2,112 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $539 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 174% 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 $539, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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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