Siem Reap 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.

Siem Reap, Cambodia
🇰🇭Cambodia

Siem Reap

64Freedom Score#71Global rank$885Per month

Gateway to Angkor Wat — sunrise over the world's largest religious monument, a laid-back café scene, and a long-stay visa built for nomads.

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.

ExpenseSiem ReapUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$885✓$2,102
Rent, 1BR city centre$334✓$945
Meal, mid-range$5✓$12
Coworking deskper monthn.a.$189
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper32.0✓46.7

Quality of life

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

MeasureSiem ReapUbud
Safety
68
49
Healthcare
40
45
Walkability
58
50
English spoken
42
60
Food & dining
68
75
Nightlife
55
55
Outdoors
36
92
Nomad community
55
85
Climate quality
68
84
Public transit
25
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureSiem ReapUbud
Freedom Score64/10076/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#71#32✓
Internet55 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature82°F77°F
Air quality45/10045/100
Airport connectivity58/10070/100✓
Nomad visaLong-stay visaIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income10%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Siem Reap if runs $1,217/mo cheaper, rent is $611/mo lower, internet is faster at 55 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (68 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

Siem Reap

  • Angkor Wat: the largest religious monument on earth
  • 6–12 month long-stay visa
  • Tiny expat town, easy community
  • Temples, rice paddies, low costs

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: Siem Reap or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on the Freedom Score (76/100 against 64/100), 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: Siem Reap or Ubud?
Siem Reap is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $885 against $2,102, a difference of $1,217 a month or about $14,604 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $334/mo in Siem Reap versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Siem Reap or Ubud?
Siem Reap scores higher on safety, 68/100 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 Siem Reap and Ubud?
Siem Reap averages 55 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 Mbps, so Siem Reap has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Siem Reap or Ubud?
Siem Reap sits in Cambodia (Long-stay visa) 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.