Cuenca vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads
Cuenca, Ecuador 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
- Cuenca is about 21% cheaper than Ubud for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,400).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $480 in Cuenca against $550 in Ubud.
- Ubud scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Cuenca: 60 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
- Cuenca is temperate; Ubud is tropical.
Cuenca wins 6 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cuenca or Ubud?
Cuenca is cheaper: about $1,100/month against $1,400/month in Ubud, roughly 21% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cuenca or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Cuenca.
Which has faster internet, Cuenca or Ubud?
Cuenca has faster typical internet: 60 Mbps against 30 Mbps in Ubud.
| Line | Cuenca | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $480 | $550 |
| Food | $320 | $380 |
| Transport | $35 | $60 |
| Coworking | $90 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 60 | 30 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | mid | small |
| Setting | mountain | 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): Cuenca October 31, 2026, Ubud August 30, 2026.