🙂A single person spends $696 per month in Samarinda vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,067 per month in Samarinda vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,439 per month in Samarinda vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂Samarinda is about 50% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Samarinda sits 48% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$3.57Rp 64.5K
-57.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.05Rp 217.5K
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-62.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.87Rp 106.0K
$5.01Rp 90.4K
17.17%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 29.8K
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-41.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,909
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-63.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,902
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-47.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Rp 44.6K
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-15.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58Rp 64.7K
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-9.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.1K
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-34.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-62.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-33.04%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.6K
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-34.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.96Rp 143.6K
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-44.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.98Rp 71.8K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
-5.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94Rp 197.5K
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-9.29%
Apples(1kg)
$5.68Rp 102.6K
$3.64Rp 65.7K
56.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.8K
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-19.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.6K
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-56.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.5K
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-29.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45Rp 26.1K
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-26.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02Rp 36.5K
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-11.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.5K
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 10.0K
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-30.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26Rp 40.9K
$3.19Rp 57.6K
-29.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.14Rp 363.6K
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-14.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 36.7K
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-29.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 58.0K
$2.76Rp 49.7K
16.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,810
$0.27Rp 4,813
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05Rp 181.4K
$8.37Rp 151.1K
20.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$0.45Rp 8,167
108.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,821
$0.46Rp 8,298
-17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.85Rp 51.4K
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-53.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$0.86Rp 15.6K
-25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 441.9M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
-7.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRp 495.4M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-15.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0Rp 1.3M
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-11.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 78.1K
$4.09Rp 73.9K
5.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.17Rp 418.2K
$23.85Rp 430.5K
-2.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.10Rp 417.0K
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-76.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 108.3K
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-5.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15Rp 56.8K
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-21.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.0Rp 1.7M
$297Rp 5.4M
-68.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,587Rp 137.0M
$6,602Rp 119.2M
14.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.68Rp 752.4K
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-21.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38Rp 548.5K
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-20.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-24.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3Rp 1.4M
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-1.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-74.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$680Rp 12.3M
-77.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.5M
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337Rp 6.1M
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-83.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,237Rp 22.3M
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-54.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$667Rp 12.0M
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-70.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$322Rp 5.8M
$164Rp 3.0M
96.74%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Samarinda versus $1,020 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 97% 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 $12.00 in Samarinda versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $298 – 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 in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $696 in Samarinda, $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 100% 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 $1,044 per month in Samarinda and $2,088 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 $12.00 in Samarinda and $32.00 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 $696 in Samarinda and $1,392 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 $696, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $696 in Samarinda to $1,392 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.