Fukuoka vs Ubud

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

Ubud, Indonesia
🇮🇩Indonesia

Ubud

76Freedom Score#32Global rank$2,102Per month

Bali's spiritual heart — rice terraces, yoga, and a world-leading coworking scene set in lush jungle at low tropical prices.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseFukuokaUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,600✓$2,102
Rent, 1BR city centre$500✓$945
Meal, mid-range$10✓$12
Coworking deskper month$180✓$189
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper64.046.7✓

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureFukuokaUbud
Safety
85
49
Healthcare
90
45
Walkability
85
50
English spoken
42
60
Food & dining
90
75
Nightlife
65
55
Outdoors
58
92
Nomad community
58
85
Climate quality
60
84
Public transit
95
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFukuokaUbud
Freedom Score73/10076/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#37#32✓
Internet100 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature63°F77°F
Air quality30/10045/100✓
Airport connectivity78/100✓70/100
Nomad visa90 days freeIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Fukuoka if runs $502/mo cheaper, rent is $445/mo lower, internet is faster at 100 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (85 vs 49).

Choose Ubud if English is more widely spoken, the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Ubud

  • Huge nomad & wellness community — instant social circle
  • Tropical jungle setting with rice terraces and temples
  • 0% tax on foreign income for most nomads
  • Coworking density rivals any island on earth

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Fukuoka or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on the Freedom Score (76/100 against 73/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Fukuoka or Ubud?
Fukuoka is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,600 against $2,102, a difference of $502 a month or about $6,024 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $500/mo in Fukuoka versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Fukuoka or Ubud?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 49/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Fukuoka and Ubud?
Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 Mbps, so Fukuoka has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Fukuoka or Ubud?
Fukuoka sits in Japan (90 days free) and Ubud in Indonesia (Indonesia visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
Open the interactive comparison

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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.