Seoul vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads
Seoul, South Korea 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 36% cheaper than Seoul for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $2,200).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Ubud against $1,000 in Seoul.
- Seoul scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
- Internet is faster in Seoul: 250 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
- Seoul is continental; Ubud is tropical.
Seoul wins 2 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 6.
| Line | Seoul | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $2,200 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $1,000 | $550 |
| Food | $550 | $380 |
| Transport | $80 | $60 |
| Coworking | $170 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 250 | 30 |
| Climate | continental | 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.
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.