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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $668 in Samarinda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,042 in Samarinda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,417 in Samarinda, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 105% more than Samarinda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Samarinda is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

105.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$14.45 Rp 255.8K

151.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$3.33 Rp 59.0K

71.47%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$1.51 Rp 26.7K

76.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.45 Rp 8,041

288.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.23 Rp 4,096

278.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.41 Rp 42.8K

22.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$3.55 Rp 62.8K

27.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.86 Rp 15.3K

170.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.66 Rp 11.7K

68.18%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.47 Rp 26.0K

49.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

132.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$3.58 Rp 63.4K

14.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$10.18 Rp 180.2K

19.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$5.14 Rp 91.1K

-27.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

41.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

103.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$1.44 Rp 25.5K

35.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.33 Rp 23.5K

43.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.89 Rp 33.5K

23.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

38.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.56 Rp 9,912

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

6.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$20.88 Rp 369.8K

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.73 Rp 30.7K

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

1.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.31 Rp 5,563

-12.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$0.50 Rp 8,867

-4.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$0.29 Rp 5,160

48.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$2.95 Rp 52.2K

91.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

-1.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$26.2K Rp 464.2M

-4.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$30.6K Rp 542.1M

3.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$69.6 Rp 1.2M

17.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$4.76 Rp 84.3K

36.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$19.69 Rp 348.7K

-4.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$20.10 Rp 355.8K

182.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$7.41 Rp 131.2K

152.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$2.77 Rp 49.1K

63.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$481 Rp 8.5M

$98.8 Rp 1.7M

386.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$6,725 Rp 119.1M

-15.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$41.32 Rp 731.7K

10.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$29.85 Rp 528.5K

20.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$74.9 Rp 1.3M

7.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$79.4 Rp 1.4M

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$198 Rp 3.5M

461.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$135 Rp 2.4M

415.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$483 Rp 8.5M

653.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$358 Rp 6.3M

385.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$1,143 Rp 20.2M

143.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$687 Rp 12.2M

233.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$340 Rp 6.0M

-50.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.46

45.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Samarinda: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $198 in Samarinda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 102% higher in Samarinda, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $14.00 in Samarinda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $217 – making Samarinda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Samarinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $668 in Samarinda – roughly 105% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,001 in Samarinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $14.00 in Samarinda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $668, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Samarinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $668 in Samarinda to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.