Denpasar vs Ubud (Bali)
for digital nomads
Under balanced weights Denpasar edges it, 60 to 59, winning 2 of the 9 factors. Denpasar is stronger on nothing outright; Ubud (Bali) on nothing outright. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.
Bali's working capital: cheaper and more local than the beach towns
Full Denpasar profile →Where to stay in Denpasar →Bali's rice-terrace town for yoga, art and slow work
Full Ubud (Bali) profile →Where to stay in Ubud (Bali) →Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 59 | 59 |
| Safety | 67 | 67 |
| Healthcare | 56 | 56 |
| Internet | 57 ✓ | 56 |
| Visa ease | 54 | 54 |
| Getting there & around | 51 ✓ | 46 |
| Climate | 67 | 67 |
| Air quality | 85 | 85 |
| Quality of life | 45 | 45 |
Cost
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost, one person | $1,025 | $1,025 |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | $739 |
Safety and health (country-level)
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Homicides per 100k | 0.41 | 0.41 |
| Political stability (0–100) | 52.7 | 52.7 |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 67 | 67 |
| Life expectancy | 68.3 yrs | 68.3 yrs |
Internet (M-Lab measured medians)
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Download | 17.9 Mbps ✓ | 17 Mbps |
| Upload | 9.4 Mbps ✓ | 8.8 Mbps |
Visa
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad visa | Remote worker visa (E33G) | Remote worker visa (E33G) |
| Minimum income for the visa | $5,000/mo | $5,000/mo |
| Entry, US passport | visa on arrival | visa on arrival |
| Entry, EU passport | visa on arrival | visa on arrival |
| Entry, UK passport | visa on arrival | visa on arrival |
Getting there and around
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-stop airport destinations | 65 | 65 |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 2 |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 2 ✓ | 1 |
Climate and air
| Metric | Denpasar | Ubud (Bali) |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable months per year | 8 | 8 |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 11.9 µg/m³ | 11.9 µg/m³ |
✓ marks the better value in each row; ties and missing data are left unmarked.
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper, Denpasar or Ubud (Bali)?
- Ubud (Bali) is cheaper: about $1,025 per month versus $1,025 for one person.
- Is Denpasar or Ubud (Bali) safer?
- Denpasar scores higher on safety (67 vs 67), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.
- Where is the internet faster, Denpasar or Ubud (Bali)?
- Denpasar: a measured median of 17.9 Mbps versus 17 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).
More comparisons
- Denpasar vs Seminyak (Bali)
- Denpasar vs Sanur (Bali)
- Ubud (Bali) vs Seminyak (Bali)
- Ubud (Bali) vs Canggu (Bali)
- All comparisons
Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); WhereNext city cost estimates 2026 (city pages); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map. Dataset 2026.10.7. See each city page for per-metric footnotes and the methodology.