Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Alba Iulia

For one person, living is cheaper in Alba Iulia: $901 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Alba Iulia, Romania
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Alba Iulia
🇷🇴 Romania
$901
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Alba Iulia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Alba Iulia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $901 in Alba Iulia.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Alba Iulia $901

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,378 in Alba Iulia.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Alba Iulia $1,378

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,855 in Alba Iulia.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Alba Iulia $1,855

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 50% more expensive than in Alba Iulia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 59.9K
$8.60 RON 41.33
-61.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 642.4K
$30.98 RON 149
15.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 99.7K
$5.88 RON 28.26
-5.95%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.0K
$2.28 RON 10.95
19.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.7K
$1.75 RON 8.43
-2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.7K
$1.48 RON 7.13
-48.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.8K
$1.97 RON 9.46
34.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.0K
$2.04 RON 9.79
114.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$1.23 RON 5.91
21.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.0K
$1.08 RON 5.20
111.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.5K
$1.43 RON 6.86
-16.78%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.7K
$2.69 RON 12.94
-24.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 319.1K
$7.53 RON 36.18
135.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
$6.03 RON 28.98
-34.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 219.7K
$10.80 RON 51.9
12.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 65.9K
$0.92 RON 4.44
297.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
$1.31 RON 6.29
16.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$1.26 RON 6.06
76.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$2.33 RON 11.20
-15.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.3K
$0.72 RON 3.44
156.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
$0.59 RON 2.83
310.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$0.87 RON 4.18
13.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,255
$0.61 RON 2.92
-16.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.0K
$5.18 RON 24.89
-57.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 400.9K
$4.28 RON 20.56
419.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 40.7K
$1.12 RON 5.37
101.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
$1.27 RON 6.11
133.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,525
$0.75 RON 3.60
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.0K
$16.98 RON 81.6
-53.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,923
$0.64 RON 3.06
-31.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,753
$0.63 RON 3.03
-31.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 97.5K
$4.47 RON 21.47
21.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$1.50 RON 7.21
-45.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 429.7M
$28.8K RON 138.4K
-17.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.3M
$23.7K RON 114.1K
33.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$125 RON 599
-36.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.2K
$7.31 RON 35.13
-11.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 334.9K
$9.01 RON 43.30
106.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 892.0K
$29.55 RON 142
67.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 318.1K
$30.83 RON 148
-42.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.0K
$5.09 RON 24.45
-16.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.8M
$435 RON 2,093
12.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.3M
$6,969 RON 33.5K
-18.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 804.7K
$38.02 RON 183
17.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 630.1K
$23.94 RON 115
45.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$73.8 RON 355
8.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$61.7 RON 297
28.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.3M
$296 RON 1,422
280.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.1M
$283 RON 1,360
137.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.3M
$612 RON 2,942
482.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.1M
$478 RON 2,299
260.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.2M
$1,643 RON 7,896
66.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.2M
$1,401 RON 6,734
63.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Alba Iulia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$903 RON 4,341
-81.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.97
97.70%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Alba Iulia: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Alba Iulia
$283 57.9% $389
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Alba Iulia
$185 36% $104
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Alba Iulia
$141 30.6% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Alba Iulia
$89 17.3% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Alba Iulia
$141 35.3% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Alba Iulia
$40 31.6% $18
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Alba Iulia
$24 108% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $296 in Alba Iulia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alba Iulia pays about 5.5 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $31 in Alba Iulia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $185 per month, with Alba Iulia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇷🇴 Alba Iulia
🕒 Local time
22:07 10:07 PM
16:07 4:07 PM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
63,536
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,025 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.55 USD). 1 EUR = 20,061 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.81 RON (1 RON = 0.208 USD). 1 EUR = 5.35 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Alba Iulia 10,820 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Alba Iulia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ubud, Bali vs Alba Iulia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alba Iulia cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Alba Iulia is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Alba Iulia?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Alba Iulia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $296 in Alba Iulia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Alba Iulia?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $901 in Alba Iulia – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 54% less than in Alba Iulia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Alba Iulia?
At $901 in Alba Iulia versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alba Iulia but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Alba Iulia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Alba Iulia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Alba Iulia?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Alba Iulia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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