Santiago vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads
Santiago, Chile 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 22% cheaper than Santiago for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $1,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Ubud against $850 in Santiago.
- Both score 8/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Santiago: 200 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
- Santiago is mediterranean; Ubud is tropical.
Santiago wins 2 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Santiago or Ubud?
Ubud is cheaper: about $1,400/month against $1,800/month in Santiago, roughly 22% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Santiago or Ubud?
Santiago and Ubud score the same on safety, 8/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Santiago or Ubud?
Santiago has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 30 Mbps in Ubud.
| Line | Santiago | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,800 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $850 | $550 |
| Food | $460 | $380 |
| Transport | $50 | $60 |
| Coworking | $140 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 200 | 30 |
| Climate | mediterranean | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | inland | 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.
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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): Santiago November 5, 2026, Ubud August 30, 2026.