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: $1,374 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
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
$8.58 DOP 508
-61.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33 Rp 635.6K
$41.56 DOP 2,463
-14.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 Rp 95.9K
$7.21 DOP 427
-26.07%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.5K
$1.80 DOP 107
52.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
$0.69 DOP 40.78
150.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$0.41 DOP 24.50
95.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 53.0K
$2.59 DOP 154
13.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 Rp 79.9K
$3.94 DOP 233
12.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
$1.18 DOP 69.7
27.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.3K
$1.81 DOP 107
27.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
$1.57 DOP 92.9
-29.94%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.9K
$1.48 DOP 87.7
45.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.09 Rp 307.4K
$6.34 DOP 376
169.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 69.8K
$3.68 DOP 218
5.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 Rp 214.4K
$4.90 DOP 290
143.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 Rp 64.1K
$3.74 DOP 222
-4.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.5K
$1.42 DOP 84.0
11.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Rp 42.5K
$3.40 DOP 202
-30.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.4K
$1.86 DOP 111
5.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.5K
$3.67 DOP 217
-50.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 43.0K
$3.00 DOP 178
-20.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
$0.89 DOP 52.8
14.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,841
$1.62 DOP 96.1
-69.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 40.4K
$4.91 DOP 291
-54.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.30 Rp 401.2K
$8.24 DOP 488
170.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
$2.97 DOP 176
-20.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.1K
$3.46 DOP 205
-16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,482
$0.82 DOP 48.83
-69.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.55 Rp 153.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,950
$2.59 DOP 153
-83.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,598
$3.30 DOP 196
-87.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 101.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
$1.24 DOP 73.3
-34.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 427.1M
$15.1K DOP 896.2K
56.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 557.4M
$25.9K DOP 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)
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
$96.1 DOP 5,695
-14.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.30 Rp 113.3K
$16.64 DOP 986
-62.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.63 Rp 335.3K
$39.76 DOP 2,356
-53.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 Rp 984.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 Rp 331.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 76.3K
$5.18 DOP 307
-18.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$484 Rp 8.7M
$153 DOP 9,050
216.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,590 Rp 100.6M
$5,548 DOP 328.8K
0.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.77 Rp 823.5K
$26.61 DOP 1,577
72.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 Rp 642.2K
$45.55 DOP 2,699
-21.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$63.6 DOP 3,771
23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
$66.7 DOP 3,951
20.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 Rp 20.6M
$133 DOP 7,885
761.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$678 Rp 12.2M
$101 DOP 6,007
568.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,504 Rp 63.0M
$335 DOP 19.8K
947.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,688 Rp 30.4M
$249 DOP 14.8K
577.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,788 Rp 50.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,257 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 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.

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