Makassar vs Ube

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 72% cheaper Ube +185 Mbps N/A / N/A
Nomad Cost

$839

Makassar

$3,000

Ube

Internet

32

Mbps

217

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Makassar

N/A

Ube

Air Quality

5/5

Makassar

5/5

Ube

Healthcare

N/A

Makassar

N/A

Ube

Population

1.3m

Makassar

169.4k

Ube

Makassar (Indonesia) and Ube (Japan) are both in Asia, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

Makassar is significantly cheaper for digital nomads at $839/mo — 72% less than Ube's $3000/mo. Over 12 months, the difference adds up to $25932.

For families, Makassar costs $1800.101453918562/mo compared to Ube's $3115.401041911109/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Ube leads on internet connectivity at 217 Mbps (ranked #0 globally) versus Makassar's 32 Mbps (#0). The speed gap is notable for video-heavy remote work.

Quality of Life

Both Makassar and Ube share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Makassar and Ube.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Makassar is August (around 35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 374), while Ube peaks in June (29 degrees, 0mm rain, score 355). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

MakassarUbe
Nomad$839/mo$3,000/mo
Expat$683/mo$1,551/mo
Local$514/mo$890/mo
Family$1,800/mo$3,115/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

MakassarUbe
City Speed
32 Mbps
217 Mbps
Country Speed32 Mbps217 Mbps

Environment & Health

MakassarUbe
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionN/AN/A
ClimateN/AN/A
Humidity8571

Quality of Life

MakassarUbe
SafetyN/AN/A
HealthcareN/AN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Makassar
Ube
Jan
36°
11mm87
7°
0mm295
Feb
37°
4mm210
7°
1mm281
Mar
37°
6mm179
10°
1mm296
Apr
38°
3mm282
19°
0mm320
May
38°
1mm346
22°
0mm340
Jun
36°
1mm348
29°
0mm355
Jul
35°
0mm372
36°
1mm298
Aug
35°
0mm374
39°
0mm305
Sep
37°
0mm354
36°
0mm346
Oct
37°
1mm330
25°
1mm326
Nov
37°
6mm271
15°
0mm317
Dec
33°
16mm41
5°
0mm300

Who Should Choose Makassar?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $839
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1800.101453918562/mo for families
  • Peak season in August — 35 degrees, score 374

Who Should Choose Ube?

  • Excellent for video calls and large uploads with 217 Mbps
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $3115.401041911109/mo for families
  • Smaller city feel with 169.4k residents
  • Peak season in June — 29 degrees, score 355

Overall Verdict

Overall, Makassar edges ahead for most digital nomads — at $839/mo it runs 72% cheaper than Ube's $3000/mo, with 32 Mbps internet for reliable remote work.

Granular Price Comparison

Makassar Ube
ItemMakassarUbeDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$1.3—
—
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$9.72—
—
McMeal or equivalent combo$3.24—
—
Cappuccino (regular)$1.78—
—
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.07—
—
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.92—
—
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.5—
—
Water (0.33L)$0.26—
—
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)$1.24—
—
White bread (500g)$1—
—
White rice (1kg)$0.82—
—
Eggs (12)$1.47—
—
Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.65—
—
Beef round (1kg)$7.45—
—
Local cheese (1kg)$5.94—
—
Apples (1kg)$2.51—
—
Bananas (1kg)$0.86—
—
Oranges (1kg)$2.28—
—
Tomatoes (1kg)$0.8—
—
Potatoes (1kg)$1.02—
—
Onions (1kg)$1.73—
—
Lettuce (1 head)$1.04—
—
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.45—
—
Wine, mid-range bottle$12.96—
—
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.27—
—
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.52—
—
Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.07—
—
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket$0.32—
—
Monthly transport pass$9.72—
—
Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.58—
—
Taxi per 1km$0.45—
—
Taxi 1hr waiting$3.57—
—
Gasoline (1L)$0.81—
—
Volkswagen Golf (new)$24,955.34—
—
Toyota Corolla (new)$31,761.34—
—
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$51.2—
—
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$41.59—
—
Mobile prepaid per minute$0.18—
—
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly$25.12—
—
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$9.18—
—
Cinema, 1 ticket$2.92—
—
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo$53.8—
—
International primary school/yr$4,861.43—
—
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$45.36—
—
Summer dress (chain store)$22.69—
—
Nike running shoes (mid-range)$75.35—
—
Men's leather business shoes$47.97—
—
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre$170.15—
—
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$77.78—
—
3-bedroom apartment, city centre$421.32—
—
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$162.05—
—
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre$1,296.38—
—
Price per m², outside centre$421.32—
—
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary$231.19—
—
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$10.67—
—

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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