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: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $983 in Roman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,490 in Roman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,998 in Roman.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 46% more expensive than Roman, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Roman is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$12.10 RON 52.7
-70.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$27.98 RON 122
16.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$7.90 RON 34.44
-35.82%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$3.51 RON 15.29
-19.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$1.18 RON 5.13
13.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$2.08 RON 9.06
-66.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$3.16 RON 13.80
-5.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$2.32 RON 10.10
65.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.53 RON 6.69
13.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$0.90 RON 3.91
182.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.59 RON 6.94
-25.16%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$3.13 RON 13.63
-22.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$8.68 RON 37.83
68.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$7.16 RON 31.23
-41.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$11.70 RON 51.0
2.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$0.96 RON 4.19
284.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.54 RON 6.73
4.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.52 RON 6.63
76.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$2.25 RON 9.82
3.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.84 RON 3.68
127.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.02 RON 4.43
114.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$0.88 RON 3.84
20.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.78 RON 3.41
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$5.74 RON 25.03
-45.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$6.86 RON 29.89
242.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$1.09 RON 4.76
151.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$1.73 RON 7.56
66.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.72 RON 3.12
-59.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$20.13 RON 87.8
-59.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$0.70 RON 3.07
-35.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.60 RON 2.61
-30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$6.80 RON 29.64
-9.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.67 RON 7.27
-49.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$28.3K RON 123.4K
-7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$27.6K RON 120.3K
17.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$93.4 RON 407
-16.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$3.55 RON 15.47
11.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$5.82 RON 25.35
319.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$41.67 RON 182
131.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$19.16 RON 83.6
-66.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$11.12 RON 48.47
-63.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$327 RON 1,428
-7.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$6,466 RON 28.2K
0.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$68.1 RON 297
-20.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$17.31 RON 75.5
119.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$96.0 RON 419
-9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$34.81 RON 152
126.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$382 RON 1,666
164.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$291 RON 1,268
131.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$587 RON 2,559
477.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$430 RON 1,873
388.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,672 RON 7,289
78.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$1,534 RON 6,689
52.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Roman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$911 RON 3,973
-81.00%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Roman: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $382 in Roman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Roman pays 426% 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 $298 vs $212 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 46% 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 426% 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: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $382 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 41% 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 $983 in Roman versus $1,438 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 46% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities