😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $423 in Zanjan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $766 in Zanjan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,109 in Zanjan.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 224% more expensive than in Zanjan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Zanjan is 69% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$2.92$2.92
17.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 643.0K
$13.20$13.20
175.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.0K
$3.04$3.04
87.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.92$0.92
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.99$0.99
-
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.3K
$0.93$0.93
187.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.0K
$0.51$0.51
243.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$1.13$1.13
-23.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$0.71$0.71
128.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$0.58$0.58
301.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$3.17$3.17
-64.98%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.0K
$1.26$1.26
74.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 313.3K
$4.09$4.09
332.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.5K
$3.22$3.22
27.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 215.6K
$8.88$8.88
37.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.6K
$1.08$1.08
243.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.1K
$1.55$1.55
2.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$0.87$0.87
162.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$0.45$0.45
333.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.7K
$0.50$0.50
282.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$0.48$0.48
385.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$0.43$0.43
134.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,773
$0.26$0.26
111.54%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.58$0.58
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52$0.52
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.47$1.47
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$1.79$1.79
24.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,814
$0.20$0.20
35.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.1K
$9.99$9.99
-10.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,566
$0.31$0.31
54.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,679
$0.29$0.29
48.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 99.9K
$1.03$1.03
447.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$0.03$0.03
2566.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 441.7M
$50.8K$50.8K
-50.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 561.5M
$43.0K$43.0K
-26.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$13.14$13.14
519.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.0K
$1.52$1.52
326.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 332.4K
$3.73$3.73
403.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
$12.71$12.71
347.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 331.7K
$12.65$12.65
48.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.4K
$2.02$2.02
124.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
$111$111
333.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.1M
$2,606$2,606
119.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 806.0K
$26.81$26.81
69.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 635.4K
$37.08$37.08
-3.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$107$107
-24.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$76.0$76.0
3.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.7M
$135$135
723.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
$98.7$98.7
606.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.4M
$392$392
826.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
$316$316
450.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.3M
$805$805
245.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.5M
$458$458
400.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zanjan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
$284$284
-40.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
23
-40.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Zanjan: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $135 in Zanjan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zanjan pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $13.00 in Zanjan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $113 per month, with Zanjan 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 Zanjan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zanjan?
Zanjan wins on cost – living expenses run 224% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zanjan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Zanjan?
On paper, salaries run 69% lower in Zanjan. 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 Zanjan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $135 in Zanjan. 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 Zanjan?
Childcare runs $481 in Ubud, Bali versus $111 in Zanjan. 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 Zanjan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 160% 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 Zanjan?
At $423 in Zanjan versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zanjan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zanjan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zanjan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zanjan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $423 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zanjan hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zanjan?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zanjan 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 Zanjan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% 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