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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $693 per month in Samarinda vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,065 per month in Samarinda vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,438 per month in Samarinda vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Samarinda is about 52% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Samarinda sits 48% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57 Rp 27.1K
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
-56.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.53 Rp 216.3K
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
-61.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.74 Rp 99.1K
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
13.21%
Cappuccino
$1.73 Rp 29.9K
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
-38.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,222
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
-60.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 Rp 6,568
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-44.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 Rp 43.0K
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-16.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 Rp 60.6K
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-8.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.1K
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-29.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 Rp 17.1K
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-61.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 Rp 13.6K
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-33.61%
Eggs
$1.53 Rp 26.4K
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
-37.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.04 Rp 138.9K
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-45.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 Rp 68.7K
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
-4.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.79 Rp 186.4K
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-9.63%
Apples (1kg)
$5.64 Rp 97.4K
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
52.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 21.0K
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-24.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 20.8K
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-55.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 27.1K
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-32.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 Rp 24.9K
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-24.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 34.1K
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-9.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 Rp 16.4K
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-10.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 Rp 10.5K
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-15.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 37.6K
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
-30.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.90 Rp 378.1K
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-6.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 Rp 35.4K
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-25.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 Rp 53.8K
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,554
$0.29 Rp 5,010
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 Rp 166.6K
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
18.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 Rp 15.3K
$0.45 Rp 7,834
97.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,028
$0.42 Rp 7,278
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 Rp 49.0K
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
-53.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 Rp 10.2K
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
-29.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 420.3M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-7.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K Rp 474.2M
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-15.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.3 Rp 1.2M
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-11.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
5.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.79 Rp 393.5K
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
-6.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.00 Rp 397.2K
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-76.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97 Rp 103.2K
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-5.98%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 Rp 53.7K
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
-23.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.0 Rp 1.6M
$303 Rp 5.2M
-69.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,437 Rp 128.4M
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
14.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.08 Rp 726.5K
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-21.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.65 Rp 529.2K
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-19.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.5 Rp 1.1M
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-23.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-5.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 Rp 4.5M
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-74.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.7M
$674 Rp 11.6M
-76.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 Rp 10.1M
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-82.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 Rp 5.7M
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-84.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,140 Rp 19.7M
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-61.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$877 Rp 15.1M
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-62.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$343 Rp 5.9M
$173 Rp 3.0M
98.00%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Samarinda versus $1,012 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 98% 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: $236 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 Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $693 in Samarinda, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 108% 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 $1,039 per month in Samarinda and $2,158 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 $693 in Samarinda and $1,438 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 $693, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $693 in Samarinda to $1,438 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.

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