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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,437 in Samos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,183 in Samos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,929 in Samos.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 4% less than in Samos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Samos 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
$11.46 €9.81
-71.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
$40.21 €34.40
-2.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
$6.98 €5.97
-19.48%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$3.43 €2.94
-23.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$2.36 €2.02
-33.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$0.80 €0.68
-11.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
$4.76 €4.07
-42.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
$6.64 €5.68
-34.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
$1.67 €1.43
-7.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
$1.47 €1.26
56.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$2.47 €2.11
-58.30%
Eggs
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
$4.53 €3.87
-53.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
$13.88 €11.87
24.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
$9.89 €8.46
-59.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
$14.29 €12.23
-13.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
$2.31 €1.98
60.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$2.14 €1.83
-24.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
$1.53 €1.31
48.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$2.02 €1.73
-1.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
$1.22 €1.05
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$1.12 €0.96
100.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$1.09 €0.93
-4.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$0.96 €0.82
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$5.46 €4.67
-59.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
$7.41 €6.34
213.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
$2.13 €1.82
12.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
$2.65 €2.27
8.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,416
$1.25 €1.07
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
$49.58 €42.41
-85.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$4.28 €3.66
-89.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$1.05 €0.90
-56.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
$15.87 €13.57
-64.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$2.18 €1.87
-65.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
$27.0K €23.1K
-9.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
$22.4K €19.1K
38.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
$216 €185
-61.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
$20.52 €17.55
-69.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
$30.71 €26.27
-39.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
$47.33 €40.49
18.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
$23.73 €20.30
-22.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
$9.37 €8.02
-54.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.7M
$436 €373
12.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
$7,237 €6,190
-19.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
$79.0 €67.6
-41.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
$36.65 €31.35
-2.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$93.3 €79.8
-14.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
$142 €122
-43.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
$494 €423
131.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 Rp 12.3M
$410 €350
68.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
$766 €655
360.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
$662 €566
158.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
$3,321 €2,841
-16.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
$2,544 €2,177
-11.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Samos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$1,025 €877
-83.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.44
210.36%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Samos: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali and $494 in Samos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Samos pays 506% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $40.00 in Samos. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $286, with Samos 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 Samos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samos cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Samos?
On paper, salaries run 506% lower in Samos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Samos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $494 in Samos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 591% less than in Samos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $489 in Ubud, Bali versus $436 in Samos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Samos?
At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,437 in Samos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Samos. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Samos more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Samos, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Samos?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Samos 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Samos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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