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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $646 in La Romana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,050 in La Romana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,454 in La Romana, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 112% more than La Romana, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while La Romana is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$8.35 DOP 490
-58.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$43.03 DOP 2,528
-15.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$7.32 DOP 430
-21.99%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$1.89 DOP 111
41.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$0.74 DOP 43.32
136.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$0.35 DOP 20.74
148.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$2.61 DOP 153
13.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$4.08 DOP 240
10.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.11 DOP 65.4
45.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$1.79 DOP 105
30.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.60 DOP 94.0
-30.62%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$1.50 DOP 87.9
46.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$6.43 DOP 378
175.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$3.73 DOP 219
9.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$4.72 DOP 277
158.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$3.71 DOP 218
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$1.47 DOP 86.2
8.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$3.42 DOP 201
-33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$2.27 DOP 133
-14.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$3.54 DOP 208
-46.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$3.05 DOP 179
-23.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.95 DOP 55.8
6.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$1.71 DOP 100
-67.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$4.96 DOP 292
-55.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$16.72 DOP 983
37.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$3.13 DOP 184
-22.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$3.56 DOP 209
-15.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$2.52 DOP 148
-80.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$3.45 DOP 202
-87.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.43 DOP 84.1
-44.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$15.0K DOP 879.1K
66.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$26.0K DOP 1.5M
21.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$95.8 DOP 5,631
-15.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$10.21 DOP 600
-36.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$38.84 DOP 2,282
-51.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$5.16 DOP 303
-12.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$149 DOP 8,780
221.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$5,568 DOP 327.2K
2.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$27.41 DOP 1,611
66.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$46.66 DOP 2,742
-23.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$64.8 DOP 3,806
24.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$66.5 DOP 3,905
18.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
La Romana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11
25.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for La Romana: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $43.00 in La Romana. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $243 in La Romana – 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
Ubud, Bali vs La Romana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Romana cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 112%, 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $969 in La Romana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in La Romana?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $646 in La Romana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $149 in La Romana. 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in La Romana?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Romana, where all-in costs run around $646, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In La Romana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or La Romana 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, Ubud, Bali or La Romana?
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.

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