Ubud vs Nganjuk: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
The two cities are closely matched — lifestyle preference and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Nganjuk is approximately 87% less expensive than Ubud based on cost of living including rent. This makes Nganjuk a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Nganjuk has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Nganjuk is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Ubud
Ubud is a bargain for renters who can live on local wages, but the numbers expose the catch: a $168/mo average net salary cannot touch $544/mo city-center rent, so this town runs on foreign income, not local opportunity. The $2,000/mo income floor on both the Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS) and the Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) tells you exactly who Ubud is built for. Internet at 20 Mbps and a 57/100 digital nomad score make remote work possible but not painless, and healthcare rated only Fair is the real long-term risk. Come for the $3 meals and $2 cappuccinos, stay only if you have a first-world paycheck and a high tolerance for humid, monsoon-soaked air.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,280/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Nganjuk
Nganjuk is extremely affordable, with a meal costing $1 and rent under $300, but that low cost of living masks a harsh reality. The average local salary is just $84 a month, while the retirement visa requires $2,000 a month in income, creating a bizarre disconnect. With limited English, fair healthcare, and a small population of 70,000, this city is a tough sell for most expats despite its low prices.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,555/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Ubud | Nganjuk |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $544.43 | $291.56 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $406.81 | $200.45 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1935.77 | N/A |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1395.99 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 70 | 65 |
| Internet Speed | 20Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Ubud | Nganjuk |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $736/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $329/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $407/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $113/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $28.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $83.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $105/mo | N/A |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Ubud vs Nganjuk -- Frequently Asked Questions
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