🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $425 in Zanjan versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $753 in Zanjan versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,080 in Zanjan versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Zanjan costs roughly 70% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zanjan is 68% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.06$3.06
$3.57Rp 61.6K
-14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.70$15.70
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-51.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.26$3.26
$5.07Rp 87.5K
-35.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.66$0.66
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.94$0.94
$2.83Rp 48.8K
-66.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46$0.46
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-65.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07$1.07
$0.69Rp 12.0K
55.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.60$0.60
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-65.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57$0.57
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-77.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92$1.92
$1.19Rp 20.6K
61.34%
Eggs
$1.20$1.20
$2.43Rp 41.9K
-50.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.36$3.36
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-77.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18$3.18
$4.18Rp 72.1K
-23.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.66$8.66
$11.94Rp 206.1K
-27.47%
Apples(1kg)
$0.87$0.87
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-76.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28$1.28
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-20.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.88$0.88
$2.69Rp 46.4K
-67.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52$0.52
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-77.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.53$0.53
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-72.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50$0.50
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-77.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63$0.63
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-40.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22$0.22
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-69.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.62$0.62
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.50$0.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28$1.28
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95$1.95
$3.13Rp 54.1K
-37.70%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88Rp 49.7K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14$0.14
$0.29Rp 5,010
-51.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.18$10.18
$8.17Rp 141.0K
24.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29$0.29
$0.45Rp 7,834
-35.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27$0.27
$0.42Rp 7,278
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.01$1.01
$6.16Rp 106.3K
-83.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.84Rp 14.5K
-7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$59.8K$59.8K
$26.2KRp 453.1M
128.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.7K$45.7K
$32.5KRp 560.8M
40.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.88$15.88
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-79.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.23$2.23
$3.95Rp 68.2K
-43.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.63$5.63
$24.40Rp 421.4K
-76.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.52$12.52
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-87.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.69$12.69
$6.35Rp 109.6K
99.84%
Cinema Ticket
$1.49$1.49
$4.04Rp 69.7K
-63.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125$125
$303Rp 5.2M
-58.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,999$1,999
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-69.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.85$30.85
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-42.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.73$34.73
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-8.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121$121
$86.8Rp 1.5M
39.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3$69.3
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-12.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259$259
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-74.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101$101
$674Rp 11.6M
-84.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597$597
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-82.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304$304
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-85.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$895$895
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-70.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$525$525
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-77.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zanjan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$366$366
$173Rp 3.0M
111.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.5
13.28
61.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zanjan: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Zanjan and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zanjan pays 111% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Zanjan vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $298 per month, with Zanjan cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Zanjan vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zanjan or Ubud, Bali?
Zanjan wins on cost – living expenses run 238% 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 Zanjan or Ubud, Bali?
Zanjan pays 111% 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 Zanjan vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $259 in Zanjan versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Zanjan and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $125 in Zanjan versus $303 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 Zanjan or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 192% 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 Zanjan or Ubud, Bali?
At $425 in Zanjan versus $1,438 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, Zanjan or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zanjan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $425 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zanjan hard to pass up.
How safe is Zanjan compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Zanjan 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 Zanjan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 238% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.