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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,048 in Samaxi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,877 in Samaxi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,706 in Samaxi.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 35% more expensive than Samaxi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Samaxi is 22% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$17.41 ₼29.59
-79.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$52.7 ₼89.5
-37.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$9.68 ₼16.45
-48.86%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$4.20 ₼7.13
-35.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.36 ₼2.31
-1.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.36 ₼0.62
94.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$1.45 ₼2.47
101.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$2.71 ₼4.60
46.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.43 ₼2.44
26.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$0.62 ₼1.05
306.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$3.00 ₼5.09
-61.33%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$1.39 ₼2.36
76.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$6.95 ₼11.81
111.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$6.02 ₼10.23
-28.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$11.39 ₼19.36
6.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$1.45 ₼2.46
164.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.67 ₼2.84
-6.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.72 ₼2.92
64.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$2.03 ₼3.45
14.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$0.69 ₼1.17
176.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.61 ₼1.03
65.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.61 ₼1.03
27.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$3.64 ₼6.18
-8.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$10.77 ₼18.30
120.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.72 ₼2.93
62.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$2.86 ₼4.87
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$0.28 ₼0.47
-3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$14.80 ₼25.16
-45.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$1.73 ₼2.95
-73.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$1.16 ₼1.96
-61.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$3.01 ₼5.11
102.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.56 ₼0.95
41.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$23.4K ₼39.8K
11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$24.6K ₼41.9K
30.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$57.2 ₼97.2
39.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$14.78 ₼25.12
-72.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$23.37 ₼39.72
0.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$29.83 ₼50.7
230.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$14.42 ₼24.51
-54.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$6.95 ₼11.81
-40.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$235 ₼400
29.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$11.9K ₼20.3K
-44.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$46.53 ₼79.1
19.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$57.7 ₼98.1
-33.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$119 ₼203
-25.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$137 ₼232
-43.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$377 ₼641
166.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$289 ₼492
133.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$705 ₼1,198
388.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$891 ₼1,514
128.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$2,048 ₼3,481
38.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$1,183 ₼2,011
91.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samaxi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$345 ₼586
-52.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
8
66.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Samaxi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $377 in Samaxi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Samaxi pays 109% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $53.0 in Samaxi. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $205, with Samaxi 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 Samaxi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Samaxi?
Samaxi wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Samaxi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Samaxi?
On paper, Samaxi earns 109% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Samaxi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $377 in Samaxi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Samaxi?
Dining out is cheaper in Samaxi – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Samaxi?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,048 in Samaxi – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Samaxi?
At $1,048 in Samaxi versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Samaxi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Samaxi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Samaxi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Samaxi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,048 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Samaxi hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Samaxi?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Samaxi 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 Samaxi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% 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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