Siargao 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.

Siargao, Philippines
🇵🇭Philippines

Siargao

66Freedom Score#62Global rank$1,000Per month

The Philippines' surf-island paradise — Cloud 9 waves, palm-fringed lagoons, and a tight island-nomad community with an easy 30-day visa.

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.

ExpenseSiargaoUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,000✓$2,102
Rent, 1BR city centre$350✓$945
Meal, mid-range$7✓$12
Coworking deskper month$190$189✓
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper40.0✓46.7

Quality of life

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

MeasureSiargaoUbud
Safety
62
49
Healthcare
38
45
Walkability
45
50
English spoken
80
60
Food & dining
58
75
Nightlife
62
55
Outdoors
38
92
Nomad community
68
85
Climate quality
72
84
Public transit
30
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureSiargaoUbud
Freedom Score66/10076/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#62#32✓
Internet35 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature82°F77°F
Air quality30/10045/100✓
Airport connectivity32/10070/100✓
Nomad visa30 days freeIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Siargao if runs $1,102/mo cheaper, rent is $595/mo lower, internet is faster at 35 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (62 vs 49).

Choose Ubud if it is more walkable, the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

Siargao

  • Cloud 9: Philippines' surf capital
  • Palm islands, lagoons, island-hopping
  • Tight nomad and surfer community
  • Laid-back island life

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: Siargao or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on the Freedom Score (76/100 against 66/100), 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: Siargao or Ubud?
Siargao is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,000 against $2,102, a difference of $1,102 a month or about $13,224 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $350/mo in Siargao versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Siargao or Ubud?
Siargao scores higher on safety, 62/100 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 Siargao and Ubud?
Siargao averages 35 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 Mbps, so Siargao has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Siargao or Ubud?
Siargao sits in Philippines (30 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.
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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.