Funchal 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.

Funchal, Portugal
🇵🇹Portugal

Funchal

84Freedom Score#8Global rank$2,000Per month

Madeira's subtropical capital — Funchal offers a mild 68°F year-round climate, Atlantic ocean views, 200 Mbps fiber, and Portugal's favorable tax regime in a safe, family-friendly island setting.

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.

ExpenseFunchalUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$2,000✓$2,102
Rent, 1BR city centre$800✓$945
Meal, mid-range$14$12✓
Coworking deskper month$150✓$189
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper80.046.7✓

Quality of life

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

MeasureFunchalUbud
Safety
82
49
Healthcare
80
45
Walkability
65
50
English spoken
72
60
Food & dining
75
75
Nightlife
55
55
Outdoors
92
92
Nomad community
78
85
Climate quality
88
84
Public transit
62
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFunchalUbud
Freedom Score84/100✓76/100
Global rankof 100 cities#8✓#32
Internet200 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature68°F77°F
Air quality25/10045/100✓
Airport connectivity60/10070/100✓
Nomad visa90 daysIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income28%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Funchal if runs $102/mo cheaper, rent is $145/mo lower, internet is faster at 200 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (82 vs 49).

Choose Ubud if the nomad community is larger and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Funchal

  • Subtropical 'eternal spring' — 68°F year-round on the Atlantic
  • 200 Mbps fiber and a strong remote-work infrastructure
  • One of Europe's safest cities with excellent healthcare
  • Favorable Portuguese tax regime for foreign residents

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: Funchal or Ubud?
Funchal scores higher on the Freedom Score (84/100 against 76/100), 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: Funchal or Ubud?
Funchal is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $2,000 against $2,102, a difference of $102 a month or about $1,224 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $800/mo in Funchal versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Funchal or Ubud?
Funchal scores higher on safety, 82/100 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 Funchal and Ubud?
Funchal averages 200 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 Mbps, so Funchal has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Funchal or Ubud?
Funchal sits in Portugal (90 days) 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.