🙂A single person spends $688 per month in Samarinda vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,074 per month in Samarinda vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,460 per month in Samarinda vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂Samarinda is about 51% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Samarinda sits 49% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$3.57Rp 64.0K
-56.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.53Rp 224.5K
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-61.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80Rp 103.9K
$4.86Rp 87.1K
19.34%
Cappuccino
$1.64Rp 29.4K
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-40.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,727
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-62.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,873
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-45.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-16.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 64.5K
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-5.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-31.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92Rp 16.6K
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-62.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-35.00%
Eggs
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-35.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.35Rp 149.6K
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-41.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.91Rp 70.1K
$4.31Rp 77.1K
-9.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.91Rp 195.6K
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-10.65%
Apples(1kg)
$5.51Rp 98.7K
$3.68Rp 66.0K
49.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-21.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-58.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-32.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-23.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-14.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.9K
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-10.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.6K
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-19.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.7K
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-32.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.05Rp 377.1K
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-7.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05Rp 36.8K
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-27.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17Rp 56.8K
$2.78Rp 49.9K
14.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,736
$0.29Rp 5,217
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97Rp 178.6K
$8.06Rp 144.4K
23.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$0.45Rp 8,047
100.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,170
$0.45Rp 8,094
-24.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 51.2K
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-54.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60Rp 10.7K
$0.85Rp 15.2K
-29.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.7M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-6.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KRp 493.8M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-12.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.9Rp 1.2M
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-14.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28Rp 76.8K
$4.06Rp 72.7K
5.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.41Rp 401.5K
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-8.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.99Rp 411.9K
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-76.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.33Rp 113.4K
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-1.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 54.0K
$4.04Rp 72.4K
-25.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0Rp 1.7M
$304Rp 5.4M
-69.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,593Rp 136.0M
$6,621Rp 118.6M
14.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23Rp 738.6K
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-23.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.88Rp 553.3K
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-20.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.5Rp 1.2M
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-22.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4Rp 1.3M
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-4.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.6M
$986Rp 17.7M
-73.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$658Rp 11.8M
-76.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587Rp 10.5M
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-82.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-83.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,047Rp 18.8M
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-61.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$677Rp 12.1M
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-69.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$328Rp 5.9M
$163Rp 2.9M
100.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.28
-31.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samarinda: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Samarinda versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 101% higher in Samarinda, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Samarinda versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $297 – making Samarinda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Samarinda vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Samarinda and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $688 in Samarinda, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 104% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Samarinda compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,032 per month in Samarinda and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Samarinda and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Samarinda and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Samarinda or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $688 in Samarinda and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Samarinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Samarinda and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $688 in Samarinda to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Samarinda or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Samarinda and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.