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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,416 in Samos versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,096 in Samos versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,776 in Samos versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Samos costs roughly 2% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Samos 6% above, Ubud, Bali 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48 €9.81
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
221.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.19 €34.32
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
23.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 €5.87
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
35.70%
Cappuccino
$3.56 €3.04
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
25.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.94
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
70.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.67
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
14.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 €4.02
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
57.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73 €5.75
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
74.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 €1.42
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-4.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.22
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-43.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 €2.14
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
110.92%
Eggs
$4.27 €3.64
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
75.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.51 €11.54
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-7.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.73 €8.31
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
132.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.08 €12.02
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
17.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 €1.92
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-39.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 €1.82
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
32.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 €1.24
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-46.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 €1.70
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-14.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 €1.05
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-36.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 €1.01
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-45.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 €0.86
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-4.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.64
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
4.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44 €4.65
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
73.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.83 €6.68
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.76
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-24.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 €2.31
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-5.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 €1.34
$0.29 Rp 5,010
441.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.49 €39.70
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
469.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 €3.91
$0.45 Rp 7,834
917.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.42 Rp 7,278
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.47 €11.50
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
118.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 €1.90
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
165.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K €26.8K
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
19.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €22.7K
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-18.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 €184
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
174.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 €20.08
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
495.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.83 €28.04
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
34.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.48 €41.40
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-49.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03 €22.23
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
309.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.63 €8.22
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
138.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$423 €361
$303 Rp 5.2M
39.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,090 €5,201
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-6.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €76.3
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
65.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.04 €33.34
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
2.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 €74.6
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
0.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €92.6
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
37.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$492 €421
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-51.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 €327
$674 Rp 11.6M
-43.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$774 €661
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-77.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 €533
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-70.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,386 €2,891
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
13.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,533 €2,163
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
8.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,040 €889
$173 Rp 3.0M
500.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
13.28
-66.64%

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

Last update for Samos: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $492 in Samos and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Samos pays 501% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Samos vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $280 vs $298, with Samos cheaper for home cooking.

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
Samos vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Samos?
Samos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samos or Ubud, Bali?
Samos pays 501% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Samos and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $492 in Samos versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Samos runs roughly 469% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $423 in Samos versus $303 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samos or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,416 in Samos versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samos but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Samos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Samos or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Samos is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Samos or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Samos 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Samos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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