🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $941 in Samara versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,386 in Samara versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,832 in Samara versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Samara costs roughly 33% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Samara is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.18₽616
$3.37Rp 59.5K
113.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.69₽2,977
$38.59Rp 680.3K
-10.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.15₽442
$5.52Rp 97.3K
-6.70%
Cappuccino
$2.11₽181
$2.64Rp 46.6K
-20.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97₽83.4
$1.67Rp 29.5K
-41.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₽39.31
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-40.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.00₽85.5
$2.63Rp 46.4K
-61.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83₽157
$4.28Rp 75.5K
-57.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₽90.4
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-32.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84₽72.4
$2.22Rp 39.2K
-62.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30₽111
$1.13Rp 19.8K
15.04%
Eggs
$1.44₽124
$2.09Rp 36.8K
-31.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.34₽887
$17.39Rp 306.6K
-40.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.04₽433
$3.87Rp 68.2K
30.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.28₽625
$12.55Rp 221.2K
-41.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60₽137
$3.62Rp 63.8K
-55.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80₽154
$1.56Rp 27.5K
15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52₽130
$2.35Rp 41.5K
-35.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.69₽231
$2.06Rp 36.2K
30.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95₽81.4
$1.90Rp 33.5K
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₽35.71
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-82.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12₽96.0
$1.03Rp 18.2K
8.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53₽45.67
$0.55Rp 9,779
-3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52₽216
$2.25Rp 39.7K
12.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.15₽356
$23.81Rp 419.7K
-82.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₽66.9
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-66.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29₽110
$2.80Rp 49.4K
-53.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45₽38.36
$0.27Rp 4,802
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.66Rp 152.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51₽302
$0.48Rp 8,489
631.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 7,863
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.41₽292
$5.72Rp 100.8K
-40.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78₽66.9
$0.76Rp 13.4K
2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K₽2.3M
$24.5KRp 431.6M
7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K₽3.1M
$32.1KRp 566.3M
12.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116₽9,940
$83.6Rp 1.5M
38.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.38₽461
$6.46Rp 113.8K
-16.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.42₽894
$18.99Rp 334.8K
-45.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.28₽3,800
$56.0Rp 986.8K
-20.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.61₽1,855
$18.62Rp 328.2K
16.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.12₽440
$4.28Rp 75.5K
19.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$487Rp 8.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,856Rp 103.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.6₽6,233
$45.56Rp 803.2K
59.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.45₽3,815
$36.38Rp 641.4K
22.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105₽8,979
$82.0Rp 1.4M
27.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3₽7,062
$80.4Rp 1.4M
2.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$526₽45.1K
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-52.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328₽28.1K
$701Rp 12.4M
-53.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$853₽73.2K
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-75.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410₽35.2K
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-76.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,326₽199.6K
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-17.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,496₽128.4K
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-34.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$859₽73.7K
$170Rp 3.0M
405.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.03
13.78
81.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samara: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Samara and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Samara pays 406% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Samara vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $293 per month, with Samara 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
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 48% in total monthly costs ($941 vs $1,396 including rent). Samara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Samara or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 406% higher in Samara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Samara and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Samara versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Samara – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Samara or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $941 per month in Samara versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $941 in Samara versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Samara but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Samara 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 Samara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.