Cost of Living Comparison Between La Romana and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between La Romana and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in La Romana vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in La Romana vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,084 per month in La Romana vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

La Romana is about 42% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

La Romana sits 39% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.45 DOP 495
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
136.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.8 DOP 3,036
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
59.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.22 DOP 423
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
48.56%
Cappuccino
$2.63 DOP 154
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
-4.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 DOP 57.7
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 DOP 23.31
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.52 DOP 148
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-13.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17 DOP 303
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
36.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 DOP 63.3
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 DOP 105
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-27.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 DOP 92.3
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
31.67%
Eggs
$2.19 DOP 129
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-10.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.23 DOP 423
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-49.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.11 DOP 299
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
18.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.11 DOP 300
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-58.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 DOP 194
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-9.78%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 DOP 53.8
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-40.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 DOP 173
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
6.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 DOP 114
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-16.31%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 DOP 149
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
29.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 DOP 139
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
2.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 DOP 66.7
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
7.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 DOP 52.0
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
21.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28 DOP 309
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
60.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.84 DOP 986
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-26.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 DOP 155
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-6.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 DOP 181
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
11.15%
🚌 Getting Around
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 DOP 205
$0.45 Rp 8,047
677.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 DOP 130
$0.45 Rp 8,094
391.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 DOP 353
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-3.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 DOP 74.0
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
48.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K DOP 1.5M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K DOP 1.9M
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
1.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.9 DOP 4,037
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-14.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.00 DOP 1,055
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
343.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.32 DOP 2,011
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
40.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 DOP 396
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
67.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 DOP 15.4K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-13.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,092 DOP 474.0K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
22.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 DOP 3,496
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
10.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 DOP 3,010
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
32.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 DOP 5,650
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
11.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 DOP 6,708
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
49.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$207 DOP 12.1K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-78.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 DOP 8,015
$658 Rp 11.8M
-79.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 DOP 24.9K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-87.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 DOP 30.0K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-75.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Romana
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
13.28
-13.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for La Romana: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $207 in La Romana versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in La Romana versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in La Romana vs $297 in Ubud, Bali – so La Romana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
La Romana vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than La Romana?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,224 per month in La Romana and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in La Romana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in La Romana vs Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $816 in La Romana and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in La Romana and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for La Romana or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Romana, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In La Romana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Romana or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward La Romana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, La Romana or Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with La Romana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

La Romana vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities