Ubud’s budget scene is unusually good for what it costs. Pools, free breakfast, and daily yoga are standard rather than a luxury add-on, and the difference between a big social hostel and a quiet family homestay is really a difference in what kind of trip you want, not in comfort or cleanliness.
This guide covers both ends properly: proper social hostels with dorm beds and pool decks, and quieter, family-run homestays with private rooms. Every property here was checked directly against real listings and reviews, not carried over from wherever it usually gets filed, several genuine mix-ups (wrong locations, confused rebrand claims, one hostel name attached to a different building entirely) got caught and corrected along the way rather than repeated.
For the luxury and mid-range side of Ubud, see Best Hotels in Ubud: Top Picks by Category. For area-by-area context on where each of these actually sits, see Where to Stay in Ubud: Best Areas and Hotels. And for what to do once you’ve settled in, see 25 Best Things to Do in Ubud.
For Backpackers & Solo Budget Travellers
If you’re working through 29 options and just want the answer, these five cover the real range: the most social, the cheapest, the safest for solo women, and two that punch well above their price tag.
Backpacker Picks
Best for meeting people
Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel. Daily organised events, puppy therapy, and a pool deck built for socialising, the standard every other social hostel here gets measured against.
Cheapest true budget bed
Jero di Bisma Hostel. A family-run rock-bottom option on Jalan Bisma, with a homemade breakfast that punches well above the price.
Best for solo women
Arya Wellness Retreat. Female-only, built around yoga and wellness rather than the party circuit.
Resort feel, hostel price
Green Paddy Hostel & Villa. Joglo-style dorms around an infinity pool overlooking working rice paddies, out toward Teges.
Quiet, still social
Sunshine Vintage House. A family-run guesthouse feel in Padang Tegal for anyone who wants the price without the party.
Hostels & Social Stays
Dorm beds, pools that double as social hubs, and daily activities built into the stay, all within walking distance of central Ubud.
Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel
Both dorm beds and private rooms, with a pool and garden that double as a genuine social hub, five minutes’ walk from the Monkey Forest and a short walk again to the Yoga Barn. Daily events run from trivia and BBQ nights to a well-known twice-weekly puppy therapy session, run in partnership with a local dog rescue. Breakfast draws some of the most enthusiastic reviews of any hostel in Ubud, cooked to order rather than laid out buffet-style, though a handful of guests have found the menu a little limited if you stay more than a few nights.
💡 WHY IT WINS
The puppy therapy sessions are a real, long-running fixture, not a marketing line, the pool area gets travellers actually talking to each other, and breakfast is cooked to order rather than sitting under a heat lamp.
⚠️ THE CATCH
The social atmosphere and activity calendar that make it appealing to solo travellers may not suit anyone wanting a quiet retreat.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Pillow Inn Ubud
Two pools, a rooftop bar, and free morning yoga sessions, with a restaurant that leans into smoothie bowls and easy socialising. A properly lively pick among Ubud’s social hostels.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Two pools rather than the usual one, plus a rooftop bar that actually gets used in the evenings.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Reviews are mixed on consistency: some guests report a brilliant, social stay, others report daily activities like the promised free yoga not always running as advertised. Worth checking recent reviews before booking.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Kuna Bali
A 54-room social hostel on a quiet lane off Jalan Sugriwa, previously known as Arya Monkey Forest Hostel. Free daily yoga, a free massage, and an organised day trip are all built into the stay, alongside a pool and rooftop lounge.
💡 WHY IT WINS
The free yoga, massage and day trip add up to real value most hostels don’t bother offering.
⚠️ THE CATCH
The organised social calendar (quiz nights, movie nights, family dinners) suits travellers who want to meet people more than those after a quiet stay.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Arya Wellness Retreat
A female-only hostel built around wellness rather than nightlife: daily yoga, massage, and healthy, locally sourced meals, in the same central stretch as the Palace and the market.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A properly distinct niche among Ubud’s hostels: solo women travellers who want a wellness routine, not a party atmosphere.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Female-only means it’s simply not an option for mixed groups or male solo travellers.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Savanna Ubud
A newer arrival that’s quickly built a reputation as one of the best-reviewed hostels in Ubud: a pool with floating loungers, free morning massages, daily yoga, and dorms with real double beds, reading lights and privacy curtains rather than standard bunks.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Consistently described by guests as feeling more like a boutique retreat than a hostel, on a street most people only walk down to reach Monkey Forest.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Popularity means it runs pricier than most hostels on this list for a shared dorm bed.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Vin Vin House
A small, family-run hostel close to Monkey Forest, air-conditioned throughout with a garden, bar and private bathrooms even on dorm beds, an unusual touch at this price point.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Private en-suite bathrooms on dorm beds are properly rare in Ubud’s hostel scene, and the family running it are consistently praised for hospitality.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Small property with limited beds, so it sells out quickly in peak season.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Jero di Bisma Hostel
Ubud’s genuine rock-bottom option, on Jalan Bisma, run by a family whose homemade banana pancake breakfast gets singled out in review after review. Set back on a quiet street despite the central address, with the kind of personal attention (tour advice, help with plans) that bigger hostels can’t match.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Real value at the true budget end, a family that actually looks after guests, and a breakfast well above what the price would suggest.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Basic is the operating word here, don’t expect a pool, restaurant or activity calendar, and one independent review source flagged a bedbug complaint worth checking recent reviews for before booking.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Budget Homestays & Guesthouses
Private rooms, family compounds, and a much quieter register than the hostels above, still walkable to the centre.
Kun-Kun Guest House Ubud
Simple and stylish, with a pool and garden overlooking rice fields, a short walk from both the Palace and the Monkey Forest. Breakfast comes up unprompted in review after review, fruit, toast, eggs, and a rice-field view from the upper-floor rooms while you eat it. Proof that a central address doesn’t have to come with a central price tag.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Central in the way that matters, affordable with it, still has a pool, and the breakfast consistently gets called out as better than the price suggests.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Guesthouse-scale amenities, don’t expect a spa or multiple restaurants on-site, and a couple of reviews mention ageing bathrooms.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Goutama Homestay
A long-running family homestay on Jalan Goutama, a quieter street than its neighbours yet still surrounded by well-regarded warungs and cafes. Four simple rooms with private bathrooms, rice-field views from some.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A properly local, family-run stay on one of central Ubud’s quietest yet best-located streets.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Small and simple: four rooms only, so book ahead in peak season.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Jati Homestay
A family homestay with a real story behind it: the owners descend from I Dewa Nyoman Jati, a Balinese painter who studied under Rudolph Bonnet and worked alongside Walter Spies to help found the Young Artists movement. His work still hangs in the rooms. Dewa, who runs the place day to day, and the rest of the family get consistent praise for warmth, tucked down a car-free lane just off the busy end of Hanoman.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Genuine Balinese art history attached to the family running it, not a marketing story bolted on afterwards, and a properly quiet compound despite sitting steps from one of Ubud’s busiest streets.
⚠️ THE CATCH
No pool, no air conditioning, and thin walls between rooms. Breakfast is simple and rotates daily rather than made to order, a few guests found it repetitive on longer stays. This is the original, simple homestay, not its larger sister resort, Jati Cottage, which does have a pool and spa at a higher price point.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Den Den Mushi Guesthouse
A small, family-run homestay tucked down a quiet lane off Jalan Hanoman, consistently well reviewed for cleanliness and warmly hospitable hosts, in a traditional Balinese family compound.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A quiet lane setting that still keeps Monkey Forest and the centre within an easy walk.
⚠️ THE CATCH
No pool, and it’s a genuine homestay rather than a hotel: don’t expect a reception desk or restaurant on-site.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Jawi House & Painter
A long-running, family-hosted bed and breakfast with three rooms above the host’s own home, tucked down a quiet alley just off Monkey Forest Road. Breakfast delivered to the room, sarongs loaned for temple visits, and years of consistently glowing reviews naming the same host.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Properly personal hospitality, right in the centre, set back just enough to escape the noise of the main road.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Only three rooms total, so it’s often booked out well in advance, and it’s a smaller, family-run operation rather than a full-service hotel, don’t expect a front desk or daily housekeeping.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Sunshine Vintage House
A newer, family-run guesthouse with a vintage-inspired concept in a peaceful pocket of Padang Tegal village, quieter and more personal than the bigger social hostels on this list.
💡 WHY IT WINS
The homely, family-run feel suits anyone who wants a hostel-adjacent price without the dorm-and-pool social scene.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Newer property with a shorter review history than established names like Puri Garden or Kuna Bali.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Ubud Rice Field House
A hostel with a genuine rice-field outlook right on Jalan Bisma, a friendly, well-kept property with a pool and consistently strong reviews for its breakfast and staff.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A proper rice-field view at hostel prices, on the same street as some of Central Ubud’s boutique picks.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Smaller and quieter than the big social hostels; not the pick for a party atmosphere.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Green Paddy Hostel & Villa
Joglo-style wooden dorms and villas set directly among working rice paddies, with an infinity pool looking straight over the fields. Properly social without being a party hostel.
💡 WHY IT WINS
The rice-field infinity pool is the real draw, a resort-style view most hostels in this price range can’t offer.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Far enough from the centre that a scooter or regular Grab rides become part of the daily routine.
See our Pengosekan, Peliatan & Mas area guide for more culture-focused picks.
Ubud Backpacker Hostel – Nyuh Kuning
A small, five-room hostel in a traditional Balinese house in the village behind the Monkey Forest, with a pool, pool table, and regular BBQ nights.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A genuine budget option inside Nyuh Kuning itself, an area that otherwise skews mid-range.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Only five rooms, so availability is tight and it can sell out fast.
See our Nyuh Kuning area guide for more village-quiet picks.
Ubud Backpacker Hostel – Peliatan
The sister property to the Nyuh Kuning branch, an eight-room hostel with a pool and bar in Peliatan, basic but consistently well reviewed for its laid-back, uncrowded feel.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A quieter base than the bigger central hostels, still with a pool and social spaces.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Basic facilities and few organised activities compared with Puri Garden or Kuna Bali.
See our Pengosekan, Peliatan & Mas area guide for more culture-focused picks.
Pertiwi Bisma 1
A family-run budget hotel on Jalan Bisma overlooking the Campuhan Valley, with two pools, a yoga shala, and rooms set among rice fields for well under boutique prices.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Two pools and genuine Campuhan Valley views at a private-room budget rate, on the same street as some of Central Ubud’s boutique picks.
⚠️ THE CATCH
A sizeable, sprawling property with steep internal paths, worth requesting a room near reception if mobility is a concern.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
In Da Lodge
A quiet, garden-set hostel right at the edge of the centre near the Campuhan bridge, walkable to both the Palace and the start of Penestanan across the river. Not a party hostel, more a calm, well-kept base.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A properly peaceful pool and garden setting that still keeps you a short walk from the centre in either direction.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Bathrooms are built into the dorm rooms rather than separated, which some guests find noisy overnight.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Aru House
A small, exceptionally well-reviewed budget stay just 300m from Ubud Market and the Palace, with a terrace and garden view rather than a pool or organised events. Breakfast is arranged at a restaurant next door, and the manager’s helpfulness, hot showers, and daily-cleaned dorms come up constantly in reviews.
💡 WHY IT WINS
About as central as a budget stay gets in Ubud, with hot water, daily cleaning, and staff who go well out of their way, one review mentions being cared for while sick during a stay.
⚠️ THE CATCH
No pool or activity calendar, and reception isn’t staffed 24 hours, worth confirming arrival times in advance.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Bamboo Ubud Hostel
A simple, air-conditioned budget hostel on a quiet street away from the main road, with an on-site restaurant but no pool or organised activities.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Properly quiet for how central it is, with reliable air conditioning and hot showers at a low price point.
⚠️ THE CATCH
No pool and no social programme, a base for exploring rather than lounging.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
The Wayan House
A family-run stay with traditional Balinese decor and carved wood detail, where the owners are known for remembering guests by name and hosting free dinners.
💡 WHY IT WINS
The personal, family-run warmth is the whole draw here, a genuine step up from an anonymous budget stay.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Priced a little above the cheapest options on this list, though the personal touch is what you’re paying for.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Tunjung Hostel
One of the true rock-bottom options in Ubud, alongside Jero di Bisma, a simple central hostel for travellers prioritising price above everything else.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Among the cheapest beds in Ubud, still in a central location.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Basic facilities, in keeping with the price; not the pick if a pool or social scene matters to you.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Umah Dajane Guest House
A quiet, family-run guesthouse in Peliatan, simple rooms with private balconies and consistently warm reviews for comfort and hospitality.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A cosy, well-cared-for private room at a genuine budget rate, away from the busier central streets.
⚠️ THE CATCH
A real walk from the centre; factor in a Grab ride for evenings.
See our Pengosekan, Peliatan & Mas area guide for more culture-focused picks.
Angsoka Bungalow
Balinese-style bungalows around an infinity pool, set in a river-and-jungle basin further out toward the Petanu River, quiet enough that the only sounds are the forest and the water. Putu, the owner, and his family run a breakfast that shows up in reviews as some of the best homemade cooking guests had anywhere in Bali, banana pancakes included. Worth a correction here: this one is often wrongly filed under Penestanan across other guides, it’s actually well southeast of there, closer to Peliatan.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Traditional bungalow style, a genuine infinity pool, a free shuttle to the Palace and market, and a breakfast several guests rated the best of their whole Bali trip.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Actually further out than its name and reputation might suggest, plan on the shuttle or a Grab rather than walking, and it’s cash-only on site.
See our Pengosekan, Peliatan & Mas area guide for more culture-focused picks.
The Onion Collective
Part restaurant, part coworking space, part small hostel, built around a genuine digital-nomad community with live music most nights and a pool guests actually use between work sessions.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A real creative community rather than a marketed one, with a following among Ubud’s long-term remote workers.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Small and informal by design; not the pick for anyone wanting hotel-standard structure or a large room selection.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Bali Bohemia
Colourful thatched-roof huts, each individually decorated with work from local Balinese artists, built around a Middle Eastern restaurant and regular live music, open mic nights most Thursdays and Fridays. Staff get singled out for arranging excursions and transfers without being asked twice, and the pool and garden are kept in properly good order. Monkeys wander through occasionally, being this close to the forest.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Properly the most artistic, characterful budget stay on this whole list, and it delivers on that promise rather than just marketing it, staff who go well beyond checking you in, and a live-music night that’s actually worth planning around.
⚠️ THE CATCH
The forest-edge setting means the occasional monkey visit and motorbike noise from the main road, and the walk back from central Ubud is uphill.
See our Nyuh Kuning area guide for more village-quiet picks.
Alam Terrace Cottages
A quiet, small guesthouse on Jalan Bisma with two shared pools and rooms overlooking a stream and forest, well off the main road despite the central address. Ayu and the team get warm, repeat-guest praise, and breakfast, banana and coconut pancake with palm sugar among the regulars, will be delivered to your balcony free if you ask at reception.
💡 WHY IT WINS
Consistently described by guests as peaceful despite sitting right in the centre, an easy budget pick for light sleepers, with staff trusted enough that some guests leave luggage there for days between trips.
⚠️ THE CATCH
Shared pools, not private ones, despite how some listings describe it. Breakfast is called basic by a few reviewers even where they rated it good, and a handful of reviews mention housekeeping lapses, worth checking recent reviews rather than assuming consistency.
See our Central Ubud area guide for more walkable picks.
Ubud Heaven Penestanan
A cluster of joglo-style villas set directly in a working rice paddy, each with its own private pool, on a lane no cars can reach, which keeps the whole property properly quiet.
💡 WHY IT WINS
A private pool in a real paddy-field setting, at a price well under Sayan’s equivalent villas.
⚠️ THE CATCH
The car-free lane is part of the charm but means carrying luggage the last stretch on foot.
See our Penestanan area guide for more rice-field picks.
Quick Comparison Table
| Hostel / Guesthouse | Type | Area | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel | Hostels & Social Stays | Pengosekan, Central Ubud | Budget |
| Pillow Inn Ubud | Hostels & Social Stays | Central Ubud | Budget |
| Kuna Bali | Hostels & Social Stays | Padangtegal, Central Ubud | Budget |
| Arya Wellness Retreat | Hostels & Social Stays | Central Ubud | Budget |
| Savanna Ubud | Hostels & Social Stays | Jalan Monkey Forest, Central Ubud | Budget |
| Vin Vin House | Hostels & Social Stays | Central Ubud | Budget |
| Jero di Bisma Hostel | Hostels & Social Stays | Jalan Bisma, Central Ubud | Budget |
| Kun-Kun Guest House Ubud | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Central Ubud | Value |
| Goutama Homestay | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Jalan Goutama, Central Ubud | Value |
| Jati Homestay | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Jalan Hanoman, Padang Tegal | Value |
| Den Den Mushi Guesthouse | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Gang Anila, Jalan Hanoman | Value |
| Jawi House & Painter | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Monkey Forest Road, Central Ubud | Value |
| Sunshine Vintage House | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Padang Tegal, Central Ubud | Value |
| Ubud Rice Field House | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Jalan Bisma, Central Ubud | Budget |
| Green Paddy Hostel & Villa | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Teges, Peliatan | Budget |
| Ubud Backpacker Hostel – Nyuh Kuning | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Nyuh Kuning | Budget |
| Ubud Backpacker Hostel – Peliatan | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Peliatan | Budget |
| Pertiwi Bisma 1 | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Jalan Bisma, Central Ubud | Value |
| In Da Lodge | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Edge of Central Ubud, near Campuhan Bridge | Budget |
| Aru House | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Ubud City-Centre | Budget |
| Bamboo Ubud Hostel | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Central Ubud | Budget |
| The Wayan House | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Central Ubud | Value |
| Tunjung Hostel | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Central Ubud | Budget |
| Umah Dajane Guest House | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Peliatan | Value |
| Angsoka Bungalow | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Near the Petanu River, Peliatan area | Value |
| The Onion Collective | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Central Ubud | Value |
| Bali Bohemia | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Nyuh Kuning, right by the Monkey Forest’s rear entrance | Value |
| Alam Terrace Cottages | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Jalan Bisma, Central Ubud | Value |
| Ubud Heaven Penestanan | Budget Homestays & Guesthouses | Penestanan | Value |
How to Book the Best Deal
Hostelworld tends to beat Booking.com on dorm-bed pricing specifically, while Booking.com and Agoda are usually more competitive for private rooms and homestays. Book refundable rates where you can, Ubud’s budget scene has enough supply that relocating after a night or two is easy enough if a place doesn’t suit. For the social hostels especially, check reviews from the last three to six months rather than older ones; management and atmosphere at this end of the market can shift faster than at the hotels in our main guide.
FAQ: Budget Stays in Ubud
What’s the best hostel in Ubud overall?
Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel and Kuna Bali are the two most consistently well-reviewed social hostels, both with pools and daily organised activities. Savanna Ubud and Vin Vin House are close behind.
What’s the best hostel for solo female travellers?
Arya Wellness Retreat, a female-only hostel built around yoga, meditation and healthy meals rather than the party circuit.
What’s the cheapest place to stay in Ubud?
Jero di Bisma Hostel and Tunjung Hostel are the genuine rock-bottom options, both central and both confirmed among the least expensive beds in Ubud on independent hostel-rating sites.
Is it better to stay in a hostel or a homestay in Ubud?
Depends on what you want. Hostels like Puri Garden, Kuna Bali and Savanna Ubud give you a pool, a social calendar, and dorm beds. Homestays like Goutama Homestay, Jati Homestay and Den Den Mushi Guesthouse give you a private room, a much quieter register, and a real family-run feel, usually at a similar price to a hostel private room.
Are there budget places to stay with a pool in Ubud?
Yes, most of the social hostels in this guide have one: Puri Garden, Kuna Bali, Pillow Inn, Savanna Ubud, and Green Paddy Hostel & Villa all do, alongside several of the private-room guesthouses like Kun-Kun and Alam Terrace Cottages.
Final Thoughts
The honest trade-off in Ubud’s budget scene isn’t really price, most of what’s in this guide costs about the same either way. It’s whether you want a pool deck full of other travellers or a quiet family compound. Pick based on that, not on chasing the absolute cheapest bed, and you’ll end up happier with the stay.
Looking for something with more polish? See Best Hotels in Ubud: Top Picks by Category for the luxury and mid-range side of the same city.
Leave a reply