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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $532 in Urumqi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $848 in Urumqi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,164 in Urumqi.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 165% more expensive than in Urumqi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Urumqi is 60% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$3.28 ¥22.14
5.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$19.41 ¥131
66.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$5.21 ¥35.22
-7.10%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.91 ¥19.68
-5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.42 ¥2.87
228.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.22 ¥1.49
240.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$1.14 ¥7.71
162.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$2.61 ¥17.67
47.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.08 ¥7.32
61.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$0.82 ¥5.56
200.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$0.36 ¥2.46
225.00%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$1.46 ¥9.86
66.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$5.73 ¥38.69
153.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$2.05 ¥13.86
112.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$10.25 ¥69.3
16.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.69 ¥11.45
120.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.08 ¥7.30
50.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.40 ¥9.47
95.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$0.53 ¥3.60
322.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$0.41 ¥2.75
368.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$0.83 ¥5.61
174.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.69 ¥4.63
53.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.51 ¥3.48
41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$2.18 ¥14.72
50.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$10.30 ¥69.6
125.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.02 ¥6.93
172.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$1.77 ¥11.95
54.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.16 ¥1.11
68.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$14.09 ¥95.2
-42.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.38 ¥9.31
-65.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$0.35 ¥2.39
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$7.78 ¥52.6
-20.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.12 ¥7.56
-27.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$22.1K ¥149.3K
20.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$19.2K ¥129.6K
67.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$41.22 ¥279
90.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$5.56 ¥37.56
-26.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$14.19 ¥95.9
71.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$14.13 ¥95.5
597.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$8.15 ¥55.1
-22.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$4.92 ¥33.27
-18.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$167 ¥1,130
82.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$7,721 ¥52.2K
-13.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$27.59 ¥186
96.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$13.81 ¥93.3
173.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$87.6 ¥592
-0.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$27.71 ¥187
175.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$240 ¥1,622
313.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$111 ¥747
508.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$410 ¥2,768
723.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$206 ¥1,390
896.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$1,826 ¥12.3K
53.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,147 ¥7,749
94.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Urumqi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$1,124 ¥7,598
-85.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3
342.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Urumqi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $240 in Urumqi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Urumqi pays 573% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $19.00 in Urumqi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $149 per month, with Urumqi cheaper across the board.

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 Urumqi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Urumqi?
Urumqi wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Urumqi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Urumqi?
On paper, salaries run 573% lower in Urumqi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Urumqi?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $240 in Urumqi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Urumqi?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $167 in Urumqi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Urumqi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 100% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ubud, Bali or in Urumqi?
At $532 in Urumqi versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Urumqi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Urumqi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Urumqi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Urumqi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $532 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Urumqi hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Urumqi?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Urumqi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Urumqi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities