Brisbane vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads

Brisbane, Australia 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 48% cheaper than Brisbane for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $2,715).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Ubud against $1,350 in Brisbane.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Brisbane: 220 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Brisbane wins 1 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 6.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Brisbane or Ubud?

Ubud is cheaper: about $1,400/month against $2,715/month in Brisbane, roughly 48% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Brisbane or Ubud?

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

Which has faster internet, Brisbane or Ubud?

Brisbane has faster typical internet: 220 Mbps against 30 Mbps in Ubud.

LineBrisbaneUbud
Monthly total (USD)$2,715$1,400
Rent$1,350$550
Food$590$380
Transport$85$60
Coworking$180$110
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)22030
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemetrosmall
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/109/10

Ubud

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

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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): Brisbane September 11, 2026, Ubud August 30, 2026.