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 $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $552 in Samarkand, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,588 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $900 in Samarkand, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,247 in Samarkand, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 153% more than Samarkand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Samarkand is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 Rp 61.6K
$4.71 UZS 56.5K
-27.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97 Rp 574.4K
$17.70 UZS 211.9K
80.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Rp 90.8K
$4.45 UZS 53.3K
13.48%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
$1.75 UZS 21.0K
54.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 Rp 25.0K
$0.42 UZS 5,036
230.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$0.25 UZS 2,990
196.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 Rp 52.0K
$1.24 UZS 14.8K
133.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.1K
$1.93 UZS 23.1K
96.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
77.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 Rp 45.0K
$0.40 UZS 4,847
527.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
$1.57 UZS 18.9K
-22.93%
Eggs
$2.37 Rp 42.5K
$1.25 UZS 15.0K
89.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.43 Rp 259.3K
$7.80 UZS 93.4K
85.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 Rp 74.6K
$3.71 UZS 44.4K
11.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 Rp 217.7K
$8.34 UZS 99.9K
45.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 Rp 67.7K
$0.81 UZS 9,746
365.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.74 UZS 20.9K
-6.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$1.54 UZS 18.5K
75.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.5K
$1.47 UZS 17.5K
53.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.6K
$0.46 UZS 5,486
319.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
$0.18 UZS 2,108
1116.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
$0.23 UZS 2,735
343.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.41 UZS 4,897
75.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 57.2K
$1.57 UZS 18.8K
102.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.84 Rp 428.3K
$3.36 UZS 40.2K
609.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.8K
$0.99 UZS 11.8K
179.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$1.99 UZS 23.9K
38.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,802
$0.23 UZS 2,739
17.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.20 Rp 147.3K
$3.13 UZS 37.5K
161.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$0.38 UZS 4,534
26.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,571
$0.17 UZS 2,024
147.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.03 Rp 108.3K
$2.40 UZS 28.8K
151.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
$0.97 UZS 11.7K
-15.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.3M
$20.1K UZS 241.2M
31.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.6M
$24.9K UZS 297.9M
29.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$39.92 UZS 478.0K
96.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 Rp 70.3K
$3.50 UZS 41.9K
11.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91 Rp 429.7K
$11.96 UZS 143.2K
99.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$36.43 UZS 436.2K
164.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 117.3K
$6.40 UZS 76.6K
2.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.1K
$2.87 UZS 34.4K
39.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.4M
$119 UZS 1.4M
154.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,551 Rp 117.7M
$4,691 UZS 56.2M
39.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 Rp 993.9K
$19.78 UZS 236.9K
179.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 Rp 688.6K
$39.17 UZS 469.0K
-2.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
$70.6 UZS 845.9K
25.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$54.5 UZS 652.5K
40.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$230 UZS 2.8M
328.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$682 Rp 12.3M
$130 UZS 1.6M
425.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,420 Rp 61.5M
$433 UZS 5.2M
690.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 Rp 37.3M
$300 UZS 3.6M
590.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,762 Rp 49.6M
$1,231 UZS 14.7M
124.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,243 Rp 40.3M
$532 UZS 6.4M
321.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$299 UZS 3.6M
-43.66%
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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Samarkand: July 22, 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 77% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Samarkand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $144 – 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 153%, 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 $2,096 per month in Ubud, Bali and $828 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 $1,397 in Ubud, Bali and $552 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 162% 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 $552, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,397. 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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