🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Urumqi versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in Urumqi versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,147 in Urumqi versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Urumqi costs roughly 63% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Urumqi is 61% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41¥23.05
$3.56Rp 63.7K
-4.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14¥129
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-41.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35¥36.19
$4.95Rp 88.4K
8.08%
Cappuccino
$2.91¥19.65
$2.71Rp 48.4K
7.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45¥3.05
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-66.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-68.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13¥7.64
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-61.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66¥17.99
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-32.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04¥7.02
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-42.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86¥5.78
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-65.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.36¥2.45
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-68.97%
Eggs
$1.49¥10.07
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-39.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.51¥37.28
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-62.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.05¥13.84
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-52.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.98¥67.5
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-17.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78¥12.02
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-53.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14¥7.68
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-26.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40¥9.48
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-50.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59¥3.96
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-74.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41¥2.74
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-78.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85¥5.77
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-61.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72¥4.90
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-28.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.50
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26¥15.26
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-31.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.15¥68.7
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-57.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03¥6.95
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-63.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77¥12.00
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-38.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17¥1.13
$0.27Rp 4,800
-37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.10¥95.3
$8.03Rp 143.4K
75.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35¥9.12
$0.46Rp 8,150
193.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$0.45Rp 8,037
-22.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56¥51.1
$6.10Rp 108.9K
23.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.57
$0.79Rp 14.2K
41.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K¥153.2K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-13.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K¥130.2K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-40.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.24¥279
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-48.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.62¥38.01
$4.06Rp 72.6K
38.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.92¥94.1
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-40.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.19¥96.0
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-85.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.53¥57.7
$6.63Rp 118.4K
28.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.84¥32.73
$4.15Rp 74.1K
16.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$169¥1,145
$304Rp 5.4M
-44.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,680¥51.9K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
16.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.30¥185
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-50.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.83¥93.5
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-63.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.5¥585
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-2.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.34¥185
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-64.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245¥1,660
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-75.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111¥751
$675Rp 12.1M
-83.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$400¥2,703
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-88.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210¥1,420
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-89.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,823¥12.3K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-35.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,181¥7,982
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-47.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,171¥7,921
$165Rp 3.0M
608.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
13.28
-77.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Urumqi: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in Urumqi and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Urumqi pays 609% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Urumqi vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $148 vs $302 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
Urumqi vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Urumqi or Ubud, Bali?
Urumqi wins on cost – living expenses run 173% 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 Urumqi or Ubud, Bali?
Urumqi pays 609% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Urumqi vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $245 in Urumqi versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Urumqi and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $169 in Urumqi versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Urumqi or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 104% 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 Urumqi or Ubud, Bali?
At $520 in Urumqi versus $1,419 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, Urumqi or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Urumqi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $520 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Urumqi hard to pass up.
How safe is Urumqi compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Urumqi and Ubud, Bali 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 173% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.