😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $970 in Sighetu Marmatiei.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,405 in Sighetu Marmatiei.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,841 in Sighetu Marmatiei.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 48% more expensive than Sighetu Marmatiei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Sighetu Marmatiei is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.6K
$6.79RON 29.54
-47.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 562.6K
$23.27RON 101
40.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.5K
$6.51RON 28.33
-22.12%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 48.8K
$1.87RON 8.14
51.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.1K
$1.98RON 8.63
-32.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$1.61RON 7.01
-57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.6K
$2.11RON 9.18
41.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.4K
$2.97RON 12.91
29.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.24RON 5.39
40.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 43.8K
$1.15RON 4.99
120.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$1.89RON 8.21
-37.04%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 41.9K
$2.91RON 12.65
-16.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 253.2K
$8.30RON 36.11
76.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.1K
$6.93RON 30.17
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.1K
$11.51RON 50.1
3.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.6K
$0.91RON 3.98
305.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$1.52RON 6.63
5.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.4K
$1.45RON 6.30
85.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.2K
$1.93RON 8.41
20.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 32.9K
$0.77RON 3.34
148.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.7K
$1.06RON 4.59
106.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$1.00RON 4.37
6.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.60RON 2.63
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.1K
$5.58RON 24.26
-43.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 405.6K
$6.85RON 29.78
242.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.3K
$0.94RON 4.09
191.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.7K
$1.54RON 6.71
87.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,010
$0.67RON 2.91
-56.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.0K
$20.15RON 87.6
-59.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,834
$1.12RON 4.88
-59.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,278
$0.81RON 3.51
-48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.3K
$7.11RON 30.94
-13.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.5K
$1.54RON 6.72
-45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 453.1M
$28.1KRON 122.0K
-6.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 560.8M
$26.0KRON 113.0K
25.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$158RON 688
-50.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.2K
$7.95RON 34.58
-50.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 421.4K
$9.79RON 42.57
149.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$41.00RON 178
135.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 109.6K
$19.13RON 83.2
-66.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 69.7K
$4.68RON 20.34
-13.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$300RON 1,305
0.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 112.6M
$9,799RON 42.6K
-33.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 929.5K
$37.62RON 164
43.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 655.8K
$29.79RON 130
27.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$72.9RON 317
18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$73.0RON 318
8.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$382RON 1,660
165.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.6M
$285RON 1,238
136.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.5M
$588RON 2,560
476.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.2M
$446RON 1,941
370.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.5M
$1,648RON 7,168
81.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.4M
$1,371RON 5,966
70.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$571RON 2,483
-69.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
7.11
86.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Sighetu Marmatiei: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $382 in Sighetu Marmatiei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sighetu Marmatiei pays 230% 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 $23.00 in Sighetu Marmatiei for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $203 per month, with Sighetu Marmatiei 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 Sighetu Marmatiei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei?
Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $970 including rent). Sighetu Marmatiei is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Sighetu Marmatiei earns 230% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $382 in Sighetu Marmatiei. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Sighetu Marmatiei?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $970 in Sighetu Marmatiei – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei?
A monthly transit pass in Sighetu Marmatiei runs roughly 147% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $970 in Sighetu Marmatiei versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sighetu Marmatiei but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sighetu Marmatiei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Sighetu Marmatiei safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Sighetu Marmatiei?
Expats usually find Sighetu Marmatiei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% 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