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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $912 in Bacau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,474 in Bacau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,037 in Bacau, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 56% more than Bacau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Bacau is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$11.60 RON 52.5

-69.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$45.83 RON 207

-28.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$8.27 RON 37.38

-40.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.32 RON 10.47

16.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$2.18 RON 9.85

-38.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$1.83 RON 8.28

-61.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$2.26 RON 10.24

29.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$3.64 RON 16.45

8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.37 RON 6.20

32.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.89 RON 4.03

183.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.72 RON 7.75

-32.56%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$3.79 RON 17.12

-35.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$8.37 RON 37.84

75.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$6.14 RON 27.73

-29.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$9.44 RON 42.69

28.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.25 RON 5.66

207.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.57 RON 7.10

-0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.74 RON 7.85

62.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.93 RON 8.70

20.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.90 RON 4.09

112.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.84 RON 3.81

161.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.67 RON 3.03

50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.79 RON 3.55

-1.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$5.69 RON 25.71

-41.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$6.72 RON 30.37

253.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$0.88 RON 3.97

217.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.34 RON 6.07

113.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.63 RON 2.85

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$31.81 RON 144

-74.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.61 RON 2.77

-24.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.60 RON 2.71

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$7.71 RON 34.85

-20.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.58 RON 7.14

-50.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$28.1K RON 127.1K

-6.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$26.8K RON 121.0K

19.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$114 RON 516

-29.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$8.19 RON 37.03

-50.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$5.23 RON 23.62

349.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$25.17 RON 114

292.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$23.37 RON 106

-71.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$6.77 RON 30.61

-38.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$654 RON 2,958

-53.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$5,513 RON 24.9K

19.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$90.4 RON 409

-38.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$35.64 RON 161

7.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$62.4 RON 282

41.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$98.2 RON 444

-20.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$321 RON 1,449

214.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$187 RON 844

261.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$507 RON 2,290

579.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$368 RON 1,662

454.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,893 RON 8,559

50.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$1,242 RON 5,612

82.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,020 RON 4,609

-83.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.5

104.31%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bacau: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $321 in Bacau. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 517% higher in Bacau, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $46.00 in Bacau. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $198 in Bacau – so Bacau 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

Ubud, Bali vs Bacau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,368 in Bacau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $46.00 in Bacau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $912 in Bacau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacau, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Bacau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bacau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bacau. 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.