🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $614 in Urumqi versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $950 in Urumqi versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,285 in Urumqi versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Urumqi costs roughly 56% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Urumqi is 55% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41¥22.83
$3.37Rp 59.5K
1.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.86¥120
$38.59Rp 680.3K
-53.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31¥35.58
$5.52Rp 97.3K
-3.80%
Cappuccino
$2.83¥18.98
$2.64Rp 46.6K
7.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.88
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-74.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26¥1.76
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-66.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12¥7.53
$2.63Rp 46.4K
-57.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81¥12.14
$4.28Rp 75.5K
-57.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21¥8.10
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-21.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86¥5.74
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-61.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66¥4.41
$1.13Rp 19.8K
-41.59%
Eggs
$1.60¥10.73
$2.09Rp 36.8K
-23.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09¥40.82
$17.39Rp 306.6K
-64.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.40¥16.11
$3.87Rp 68.2K
-37.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84¥65.9
$12.55Rp 221.2K
-21.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00¥13.40
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-44.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22¥8.16
$1.56Rp 27.5K
-21.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83¥12.24
$2.35Rp 41.5K
-22.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.79
$2.06Rp 36.2K
-65.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50¥3.32
$1.90Rp 33.5K
-73.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60¥4.04
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-74.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50¥3.37
$1.03Rp 18.2K
-51.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.08
$0.55Rp 9,779
-16.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01¥20.18
$2.25Rp 39.7K
33.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.21¥68.4
$23.81Rp 419.7K
-57.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13¥7.59
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-51.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46¥9.77
$2.80Rp 49.4K
-47.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31¥2.10
$0.27Rp 4,802
14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.14¥122
$8.66Rp 152.7K
109.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45¥9.72
$0.48Rp 8,489
202.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31¥2.09
$0.45Rp 7,863
-31.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.47¥50.1
$5.72Rp 100.8K
30.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥7.98
$0.76Rp 13.4K
56.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K¥121.0K
$24.5KRp 431.6M
-26.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.1K¥94.2K
$32.1KRp 566.3M
-56.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.5¥445
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-20.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.32¥35.67
$6.46Rp 113.8K
-17.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.00¥73.7
$18.99Rp 334.8K
-42.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.56¥151
$56.0Rp 986.8K
-59.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.47¥63.4
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-49.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.00¥40.20
$4.28Rp 75.5K
40.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$162¥1,086
$487Rp 8.6M
-66.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,774¥58.8K
$5,856Rp 103.2M
49.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0¥348
$45.56Rp 803.2K
14.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.91¥147
$36.38Rp 641.4K
-39.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102¥683
$82.0Rp 1.4M
24.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.17¥296
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-45.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$264¥1,769
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-76.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117¥787
$701Rp 12.4M
-83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411¥2,755
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-88.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246¥1,647
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-86.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,830¥12.3K
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-35.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,150¥7,707
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-49.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urumqi
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,129¥7,565
$170Rp 3.0M
564.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
13.78
-75.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Urumqi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Urumqi and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Urumqi pays 565% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Urumqi vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $293 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 127% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 565% higher in Urumqi, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $264 in Urumqi versus $1,117 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $162 in Urumqi versus $487 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $614 in Urumqi versus $1,396 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 $614 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 127% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.