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: $1,779 in Samara versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,461 in Samara versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,143 in Samara versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Samara is roughly 24% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Samara 33% above, Ubud, Bali 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.79 ₡4,458
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
174.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.3 ₡24.7K
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
66.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.83 ₡3,109
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
34.71%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ₡1,239
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
-3.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 ₡912
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
49.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 ₡628
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 ₡1,328
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-2.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 ₡1,933
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
10.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 ₡931
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 ₡1,268
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
9.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡984
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
81.51%
Eggs
$2.95 ₡1,343
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
21.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.09 ₡4,596
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-31.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.34 ₡4,257
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
123.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 ₡4,517
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-16.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 ₡2,093
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
24.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 ₡690
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-5.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 ₡1,923
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
56.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,627
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
53.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.42 ₡1,558
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
79.06%
Onion (1kg)
$3.20 ₡1,456
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
46.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₡464
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-3.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 ₡1,334
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
306.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89 ₡2,225
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
56.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.16 ₡8,729
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-18.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,084
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-13.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡990
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-24.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ₡456
$0.29 Rp 5,010
244.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡856
$0.45 Rp 7,834
317.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡811
$0.42 Rp 7,278
323.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.99 ₡3,642
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
29.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ₡638
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K ₡17.0M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
42.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K ₡14.6M
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.1 ₡42.4K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
18.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.42 ₡11.6K
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
543.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 ₡26.9K
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
142.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.5 ₡32.1K
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-26.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.44 ₡10.7K
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
269.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.77 ₡4,450
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
141.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$471 ₡214.4K
$303 Rp 5.2M
55.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,964 ₡2.7M
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-8.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 ₡27.6K
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
12.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 ₡23.9K
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
38.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.5K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
42.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡48.9K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
36.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,474 ₡671.6K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
45.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$843 ₡384.0K
$674 Rp 11.6M
24.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,001 ₡1.4M
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-11.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$953 ₡433.9K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-54.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,940 ₡2.3M
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
65.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
13.28
-23.42%

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

Last update for Samara: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,474 in Samara and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Samara vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $298 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 Ubud, Bali?
Samara and Ubud, Bali differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,779 vs $1,438 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 $2,669 in Samara and $2,158 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,474 in Samara versus $1,012 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 $471 in Samara versus $303 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 $33.00 versus $54.0 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,779 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 24% less than in Samara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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