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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,082 in Samara versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Samara versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,201 in Samara versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Samara is roughly 52% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Samara 52% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.99 ₡4,886
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
219.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 ₡26.0K
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
61.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 ₡5,228
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
105.95%
Cappuccino
$4.49 ₡1,997
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
68.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 ₡1,163
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
49.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₡855
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
120.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 ₡1,513
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
15.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 ₡2,031
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
1.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.45 ₡1,089
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
51.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,365
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
31.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 ₡1,088
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
120.72%
Eggs
$3.46 ₡1,540
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
57.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.93 ₡4,857
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-38.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.33 ₡4,592
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
151.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.05 ₡4,911
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
-9.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 ₡2,333
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
41.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₡739
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
4.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.93 ₡2,192
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
116.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 ₡1,722
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
98.46%
Potato (1kg)
$3.96 ₡1,762
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
107.33%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,669
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
61.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ₡482
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
6.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₡1,442
$0.55 Rp 9,773
489.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42 ₡2,410
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
143.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.19 ₡8,530
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-16.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,247
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
16.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₡1,102
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-17.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 ₡663
$0.27 Rp 4,814
451.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₡1,112
$0.48 Rp 8,566
420.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 ₡706
$0.43 Rp 7,679
269.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.90 ₡3,954
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
57.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡692
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
95.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ₡9.9M
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
-10.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K ₡15.6M
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
10.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.0 ₡43.1K
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
19.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.21 ₡16.1K
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
457.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3 ₡27.7K
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
231.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.6 ₡32.7K
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
29.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.08 ₡3,593
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
77.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 ₡222.9K
$481 Rp 8.5M
4.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,985 ₡2.7M
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
4.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8 ₡29.2K
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
44.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 ₡24.9K
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
55.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₡57.6K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
61.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 ₡59.6K
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
70.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,356 ₡602.6K
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
21.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$962 ₡427.6K
$698 Rp 12.4M
37.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,776 ₡1.7M
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
3.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,617 ₡1.2M
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
50.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,068 ₡2.3M
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
82.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.78
13.78
-36.28%

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

Last update for Samara: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,356 in Samara and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Samara vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $295 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Samara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Samara and in Ubud, Bali?
Samara and Ubud, Bali differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($2,082 vs $1,368 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Samara compared to Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $3,124 in Samara and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Samara and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,356 in Samara versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Samara and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $501 in Samara versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $59.0 in Samara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,082 in Samara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Samara. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Samara and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Samara or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Samara 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.
Where should expats move: Samara or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Samara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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