Koh Phangan vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads

Koh Phangan, Thailand 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

  • Koh Phangan is about 11% cheaper than Ubud for a month of nomad living ($1,250 vs $1,400).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Koh Phangan against $550 in Ubud.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Koh Phangan: 60 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Koh Phangan wins 5 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 1.

LineKoh PhanganUbud
Monthly total (USD)$1,250$1,400
Rent$500$550
Food$350$380
Transport$60$60
Coworking$100$110
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)6030
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizesmallsmall
Settingislandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)8/109/10

Koh Phangan

Thai island with a fast-growing nomad scene around Sri Thanu — beaches, wellness, low cost.

Ubud

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

Compare Koh Phangan 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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.