Cartagena vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads
Cartagena, Colombia 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 3% cheaper than Cartagena for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $1,450).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Ubud against $620 in Cartagena.
- Ubud scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Cartagena: 150 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Cartagena wins 1 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cartagena or Ubud?
Ubud is cheaper: about $1,400/month against $1,450/month in Cartagena, roughly 3% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cartagena or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Cartagena.
Which has faster internet, Cartagena or Ubud?
Cartagena has faster typical internet: 150 Mbps against 30 Mbps in Ubud.
| Line | Cartagena | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,450 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $620 | $550 |
| Food | $380 | $380 |
| Transport | $60 | $60 |
| Coworking | $110 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 150 | 30 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 9/10 |
Ubud
Bali's wellness-and-yoga nomad hub inland from Canggu — jungle, cafes, strong community.
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): Cartagena September 10, 2026, Ubud August 30, 2026.