😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $728 in Samana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,313 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,194 in Samana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,252 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,661 in Samana.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 89% more expensive than in Samana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Samana is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32Rp 59.8K
$8.58DOP 508
-61.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33Rp 635.6K
$41.56DOP 2,463
-14.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.33Rp 95.9K
$7.21DOP 427
-26.07%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.5K
$1.80DOP 107
52.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Rp 31.1K
$0.69DOP 40.78
150.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.41DOP 24.50
95.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 53.0K
$2.59DOP 154
13.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44Rp 79.9K
$3.94DOP 233
12.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.18DOP 69.7
27.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30Rp 41.3K
$1.81DOP 107
27.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.8K
$1.57DOP 92.9
-29.94%
Eggs
$2.16Rp 38.9K
$1.48DOP 87.7
45.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.09Rp 307.4K
$6.34DOP 376
169.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88Rp 69.8K
$3.68DOP 218
5.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.92Rp 214.4K
$4.90DOP 290
143.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57Rp 64.1K
$3.74DOP 222
-4.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.5K
$1.42DOP 84.0
11.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36Rp 42.5K
$3.40DOP 202
-30.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.4K
$1.86DOP 111
5.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.5K
$3.67DOP 217
-50.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.39Rp 43.0K
$3.00DOP 178
-20.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02Rp 18.3K
$0.89DOP 52.8
14.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,841
$1.62DOP 96.1
-69.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 40.4K
$4.91DOP 291
-54.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.30Rp 401.2K
$8.24DOP 488
170.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37Rp 42.6K
$2.97DOP 176
-20.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.1K
$3.46DOP 205
-16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,482
$0.82DOP 48.83
-69.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.55Rp 153.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,950
$2.59DOP 153
-83.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,598
$3.30DOP 196
-87.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66Rp 101.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.7K
$1.24DOP 73.3
-34.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KRp 427.1M
$15.1KDOP 896.2K
56.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KRp 557.4M
$25.9KDOP 1.5M
19.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3Rp 1.5M
$96.1DOP 5,695
-14.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.30Rp 113.3K
$16.64DOP 986
-62.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.63Rp 335.3K
$39.76DOP 2,356
-53.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7Rp 984.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45Rp 331.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.24Rp 76.3K
$5.18DOP 307
-18.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$484Rp 8.7M
$153DOP 9,050
216.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,590Rp 100.6M
$5,548DOP 328.8K
0.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.77Rp 823.5K
$26.61DOP 1,577
72.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69Rp 642.2K
$45.55DOP 2,699
-21.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.3Rp 1.4M
$63.6DOP 3,771
23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1Rp 1.4M
$66.7DOP 3,951
20.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147Rp 20.6M
$133DOP 7,885
761.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$678Rp 12.2M
$101DOP 6,007
568.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,504Rp 63.0M
$335DOP 19.8K
947.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,688Rp 30.4M
$249DOP 14.8K
577.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,788Rp 50.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,257Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11
25.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026
Last update for Samana: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali and $133 in Samana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $42.00 in Samana. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $223, 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 89% 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 and in Samana?
You'd need roughly $2,062 in Ubud, Bali and $1,092 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 compared to Samana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $133 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 in Samana?
Childcare runs $484 in Ubud, Bali versus $153 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 and in Samana?
Dining out is cheaper in Samana – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $35.00 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 in Samana?
At $728 in Samana versus $1,374 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 $728 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 89% 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