😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $817 in Samana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,353 in Samana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,889 in Samana.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 72% more expensive than Samana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Samana is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$4.35DOP 255
-17.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$36.59DOP 2,144
-11.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$7.36DOP 431
-33.97%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$1.73DOP 101
58.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$0.75DOP 44.16
76.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.85DOP 49.57
-17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$2.50DOP 147
16.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$4.16DOP 244
-8.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.38DOP 81.0
23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$0.82DOP 48.04
201.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$0.87DOP 51.1
37.93%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$2.10DOP 123
16.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$6.33DOP 371
127.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$5.31DOP 311
-18.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$8.45DOP 495
44.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$2.99DOP 175
23.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$0.86DOP 50.3
80.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$1.39DOP 81.7
100.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$1.63DOP 95.3
42.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$1.69DOP 98.9
16.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$1.73DOP 101
33.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.53DOP 30.96
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$0.67DOP 39.06
8.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$4.16DOP 244
-21.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$8.76DOP 513
160.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$2.58DOP 151
8.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$2.90DOP 170
-4.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
$0.81DOP 47.34
-64.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$3.32DOP 194
-86.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$1.07DOP 62.6
-57.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$6.00DOP 351
4.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$1.23DOP 72.2
-30.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$26.9KDOP 1.6M
-3.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$31.9KDOP 1.9M
-0.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$50.4DOP 2,954
60.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$16.85DOP 987
-75.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$36.71DOP 2,150
-33.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$6.74DOP 395
-40.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$263DOP 15.4K
15.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$8,189DOP 479.7K
-19.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$59.3DOP 3,474
-8.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$52.4DOP 3,068
-25.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$95.0DOP 5,566
-9.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$116DOP 6,778
-33.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$310DOP 18.2K
218.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$254DOP 14.9K
159.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$746DOP 43.7K
351.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$539DOP 31.5K
283.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
12.9
2.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Last update for Samana: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $310 in Samana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $37.00 in Samana. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $193, with Samana 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
Ubud, Bali vs Samana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Samana?
Samana wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Samana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Samana?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $1,226 in Samana to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Samana?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $310 in Samana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Samana?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $263 in Samana. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Samana?
Dining out is cheaper in Samana – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Samana?
At $817 in Samana versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Samana but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Samana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Samana?
Both work as nomad bases, but Samana delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $817 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Samana hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Samana?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Samana 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Samana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared