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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $994 in Roman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,472 in Roman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,950 in Roman.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 40% more expensive than in Roman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Roman is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$12.34 RON 56.1
-71.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$27.51 RON 125
17.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$7.96 RON 36.20
-37.06%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$3.35 RON 15.24
-15.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$1.14 RON 5.18
18.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$2.08 RON 9.45
-64.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$3.20 RON 14.53
-8.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$2.32 RON 10.53
69.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.50 RON 6.81
18.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.89 RON 4.05
175.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.59 RON 7.22
-27.67%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$2.97 RON 13.48
-18.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$8.90 RON 40.45
61.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$6.87 RON 31.24
-39.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$11.32 RON 51.5
6.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$0.91 RON 4.12
300.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.54 RON 7.02
1.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.48 RON 6.72
88.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$2.23 RON 10.13
0.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$0.80 RON 3.63
147.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.01 RON 4.60
125.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$0.94 RON 4.26
11.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.85 RON 3.86
-7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$5.79 RON 26.31
-44.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$6.54 RON 29.73
259.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$1.15 RON 5.22
152.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$1.71 RON 7.76
61.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.70 RON 3.20
-61.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$19.96 RON 90.7
-58.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$0.67 RON 3.04
-32.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$0.61 RON 2.75
-24.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$6.88 RON 31.28
-11.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.66 RON 7.53
-48.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$28.1K RON 127.9K
-5.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$27.4K RON 124.7K
18.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$93.4 RON 425
-15.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$3.40 RON 15.46
20.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$5.60 RON 25.47
325.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$40.66 RON 185
142.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$19.35 RON 88.0
-67.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$10.99 RON 49.94
-63.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$325 RON 1,477
-8.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$6,589 RON 30.0K
0.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$67.6 RON 307
-20.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$17.61 RON 80.1
116.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$95.9 RON 436
-7.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$33.92 RON 154
125.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$388 RON 1,765
162.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$290 RON 1,320
134.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$581 RON 2,643
496.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$444 RON 2,017
371.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$2,229 RON 10.1K
22.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$1,357 RON 6,168
69.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$859 RON 3,907
-80.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
7.7
72.47%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Roman: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $388 in Roman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Roman pays 425% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Roman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $209 per month, with Roman 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
Ubud, Bali vs Roman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roman cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Roman is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Roman?
On paper, salaries run 425% lower in Roman. 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 Roman?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $388 in Roman. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Roman?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Roman?
Dining out is cheaper in Roman – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Roman?
At $994 in Roman versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roman but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Roman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Roman more family-friendly?
For families, Roman is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Roman?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Roman 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Roman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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