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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $835 in Samana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,334 in Samana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,834 in Samana.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 67% more expensive than in Samana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Samana is 37% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$4.19 DOP 243
-14.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$36.95 DOP 2,147
-12.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$7.60 DOP 442
-34.08%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$1.67 DOP 97.2
68.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.76 DOP 43.87
77.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.77 DOP 44.88
-5.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$2.54 DOP 147
15.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$4.30 DOP 250
-8.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.33 DOP 77.0
33.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.89 DOP 51.7
175.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$0.83 DOP 48.03
38.55%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$2.00 DOP 116
20.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$6.27 DOP 364
128.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$5.20 DOP 302
-19.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$8.41 DOP 489
43.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$3.08 DOP 179
18.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$0.93 DOP 53.9
68.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.34 DOP 78.1
108.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.57 DOP 91.3
42.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$1.75 DOP 102
13.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.75 DOP 102
30.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$0.53 DOP 30.54
98.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.67 DOP 38.86
17.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$4.30 DOP 250
-25.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$8.34 DOP 485
181.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$2.48 DOP 144
16.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$3.01 DOP 175
-8.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.83 DOP 48.07
-67.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$3.41 DOP 198
-86.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$1.02 DOP 59.5
-54.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$6.04 DOP 351
0.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.28 DOP 74.4
-32.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$26.3K DOP 1.5M
1.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$32.1K DOP 1.9M
1.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$51.9 DOP 3,015
52.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$16.97 DOP 986
-75.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$36.25 DOP 2,107
-34.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$6.76 DOP 393
-40.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$266 DOP 15.4K
11.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$7,990 DOP 464.3K
-17.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$59.7 DOP 3,470
-10.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$51.2 DOP 2,975
-25.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$97.3 DOP 5,655
-8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$114 DOP 6,633
-32.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$313 DOP 18.2K
225.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$252 DOP 14.7K
169.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$733 DOP 42.6K
373.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$534 DOP 31.1K
291.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Samana: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $313 in Samana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $37.00 in Samana. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $192, 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 67% 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 $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,253 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $313 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 $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $266 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 $37.00 versus $32.00 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 $835 in Samana versus $1,392 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 $835 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 67% 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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