Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Smolyan

For one person, living is cheaper in Smolyan: $723 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Smolyan, Bulgaria
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Smolyan
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$723
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Smolyan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Smolyan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $723 in Smolyan.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Smolyan $723

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,156 in Smolyan.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Smolyan $1,156

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,589 in Smolyan.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Smolyan $1,589

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 84% more expensive than in Smolyan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Smolyan 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.2K
$6.38 BGN 11.17
-47.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.6K
$37.37 BGN 65.4
-7.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.1K
$5.79 BGN 10.14
-3.80%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$1.32 BGN 2.32
98.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.07 BGN 1.87
43.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.78 BGN 1.36
-17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$1.72 BGN 3.02
55.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
$2.18 BGN 3.81
95.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.75 BGN 3.06
-16.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$0.93 BGN 1.63
146.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$1.73 BGN 3.03
-35.84%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$3.37 BGN 5.89
-37.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.2K
$10.22 BGN 17.89
55.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.4K
$5.73 BGN 10.03
-32.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.8K
$8.63 BGN 15.11
32.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.4K
$1.13 BGN 1.98
214.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.73 BGN 3.02
-10.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.15 BGN 2.01
93.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$2.31 BGN 4.05
-14.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$1.17 BGN 2.05
58.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$1.49 BGN 2.60
62.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$0.93 BGN 1.63
9.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,475
$0.60 BGN 1.05
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$3.40 BGN 5.94
-35.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.2K
$5.55 BGN 9.72
292.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$0.60 BGN 1.04
288.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$1.67 BGN 2.92
77.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,542
$0.88 BGN 1.54
-71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.3K
$32.36 BGN 56.6
-74.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,941
$1.30 BGN 2.28
-66.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,489
$0.59 BGN 1.04
-20.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
$12.19 BGN 21.33
-54.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.54 BGN 2.69
-46.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
$23.1K BGN 40.4K
5.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.0M
$23.4K BGN 40.9K
35.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$100 BGN 175
-22.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$14.39 BGN 25.18
-57.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.1K
$9.26 BGN 16.21
104.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.0K
$21.86 BGN 38.26
133.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.0K
$16.71 BGN 29.25
9.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$7.64 BGN 13.38
-42.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$230 BGN 402
114.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.7M
$5,915 BGN 10.4K
106.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.2K
$28.19 BGN 49.33
60.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 632.9K
$21.01 BGN 36.77
66.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$58.9 BGN 103
32.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$62.8 BGN 110
24.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$202 BGN 353
434.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$141 BGN 247
370.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$290 BGN 507
1111.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$238 BGN 417
601.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
$1,302 BGN 2,279
79.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$1,091 BGN 1,910
104.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Smolyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$694 BGN 1,215
-76.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.25
324.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Smolyan: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Smolyan
$141 78.7% $524
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Smolyan
$199 28.6% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Smolyan
$77 27.7% $29
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Smolyan
$105 1% $1.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Smolyan
$124 20.6% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Smolyan
$37 37.8% $23
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Smolyan
$40 236% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $202 in Smolyan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Smolyan pays about 4.2 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $37 in Smolyan. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $199, with Smolyan cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇧🇬 Smolyan
🕒 Local time
17:48 5:48 PM
11:48 11:48 AM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
30,507
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,384 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.97 BGN (1 BGN = 0.509 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Smolyan 10,680 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Smolyan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Smolyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smolyan cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Smolyan is about 46% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Smolyan?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Smolyan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $202 in Smolyan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $492 in Ubud, Bali versus $230 in Smolyan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Smolyan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Smolyan?
At $723 in Smolyan versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Smolyan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Smolyan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Smolyan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Smolyan?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Smolyan are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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