Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Rome versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,167 in Rome versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,304 in Rome versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Rome is roughly 45% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 48% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45 €15.00
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
417.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 €61.0
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
83.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 €10.13
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
113.59%
Cappuccino
$2.26 €1.94
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
-14.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 €2.67
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
85.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
101.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 €5.03
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
122.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 €5.86
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
59.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.55
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
16.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €1.96
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
2.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 €2.79
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
187.61%
Eggs
$4.74 €4.07
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
126.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.31 €13.16
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-11.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.46 €10.71
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
221.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.09 €16.41
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
52.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 €2.30
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
-26.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 €2.13
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
58.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 €2.21
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
8.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 €2.09
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
18.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 €1.25
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
-23.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 €1.39
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
-31.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.23
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
39.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 €0.43
$0.55 Rp 9,809
-7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07 €6.08
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
214.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.54 €3.91
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-80.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.52
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
4.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.69 €1.45
$0.27 Rp 4,816
525.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.92 €35.18
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
372.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.64 €6.57
$0.48 Rp 8,515
1491.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 €1.53
$0.45 Rp 7,887
295.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.61 €29.76
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
505.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.77
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
169.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K €31.9K
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
51.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K €30.9K
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
11.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 €189
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
163.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.41 €10.67
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
92.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 €26.96
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
65.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 €58.8
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
22.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.35 €21.79
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
36.14%
Cinema Ticket
$11.50 €9.89
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
168.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$504 €433
$487 Rp 8.6M
3.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.0K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
197.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.4 €64.0
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
63.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.93 €32.61
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
4.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 €75.0
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
54.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 €1,070
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
11.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$887 €762
$701 Rp 12.4M
26.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 €2,267
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-25.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,795 €1,543
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
1.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,673 €7,457
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
206.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,283 €2,822
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
43.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,947 €1,674
$170 Rp 3.0M
1046.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.52
13.78
-74.46%

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

Last update for Rome: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,244 in Rome and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rome pays 1047% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Rome vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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
Rome vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rome or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1047% higher in Rome, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rome compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,244 in Rome versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Rome compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,031 per month in Rome versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Rome compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 373% less than in Rome. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rome or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,031 in Rome, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Rome compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Rome and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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