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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $996 in Roman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,472 in Roman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,949 in Roman.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 41% more expensive than Roman, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Roman is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$12.39 RON 56.1
-71.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$28.00 RON 127
16.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$7.84 RON 35.48
-38.01%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$3.36 RON 15.21
-18.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.12 RON 5.07
17.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$2.09 RON 9.44
-66.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$3.15 RON 14.26
-7.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$2.35 RON 10.63
61.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.48 RON 6.71
15.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.95 RON 4.29
160.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.64 RON 7.44
-26.83%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.02 RON 13.68
-19.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$8.71 RON 39.42
65.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$6.82 RON 30.86
-36.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$11.29 RON 51.1
8.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$0.95 RON 4.32
287.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.48 RON 6.69
4.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.48 RON 6.70
88.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$2.22 RON 10.06
4.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.77 RON 3.49
155.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.03 RON 4.65
124.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.93 RON 4.21
13.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.85 RON 3.82
-14.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$5.74 RON 25.95
-42.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$6.66 RON 30.12
242.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.14 RON 5.18
146.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.64 RON 7.43
69.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$0.72 RON 3.27
-59.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$19.68 RON 89.0
-59.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$0.72 RON 3.24
-37.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.66 RON 2.97
-31.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$6.74 RON 30.48
-7.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.68 RON 7.58
-49.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$28.3K RON 128.1K
-8.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$28.0K RON 126.4K
13.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$90.6 RON 410
-10.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$3.47 RON 15.70
17.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$5.69 RON 25.76
329.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$41.72 RON 189
134.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$18.99 RON 85.9
-66.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$10.76 RON 48.66
-62.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$328 RON 1,482
-7.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$6,627 RON 30.0K
-0.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$67.3 RON 305
-19.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$17.09 RON 77.3
126.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$96.6 RON 437
-10.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$34.85 RON 158
120.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$387 RON 1,749
154.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$286 RON 1,293
130.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$577 RON 2,608
484.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$441 RON 1,993
368.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$2,070 RON 9,365
32.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$1,266 RON 5,725
75.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$854 RON 3,863
-80.86%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Roman: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $387 in Roman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Roman pays 423% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Roman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $208 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 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Roman?
On paper, Roman earns 423% less. 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: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $387 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 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 Roman?
Dining out is cheaper in Roman – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Roman?
At $996 in Roman versus $1,404 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 41% 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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