Barcelona vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads

Barcelona, Spain and Ubud, Indonesia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Ubud is about 45% cheaper than Barcelona for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $2,550).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Ubud against $1,350 in Barcelona.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Barcelona: 300 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
  • Barcelona is mediterranean; Ubud is tropical.

Barcelona wins 2 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 4.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Barcelona or Ubud?

Ubud is cheaper: about $1,400/month against $2,550/month in Barcelona, roughly 45% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Barcelona or Ubud?

Barcelona and Ubud score the same on safety, 8/10 each.

Which has faster internet, Barcelona or Ubud?

Barcelona has faster typical internet: 300 Mbps against 30 Mbps in Ubud.

LineBarcelonaUbud
Monthly total (USD)$2,550$1,400
Rent$1,350$550
Food$540$380
Transport$55$60
Coworking$160$110
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)30030
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetrosmall
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/109/10

Ubud

Bali's wellness-and-yoga nomad hub inland from Canggu — jungle, cafes, strong community.

Compare Barcelona with

Compare Ubud with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Barcelona November 2, 2026, Ubud August 30, 2026.