Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
$6.79 RON 29.54
-47.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
$23.27 RON 101
40.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
$6.51 RON 28.33
-22.12%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
$1.87 RON 8.14
51.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$1.98 RON 8.63
-32.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.61 RON 7.01
-57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
$2.11 RON 9.18
41.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
$2.97 RON 12.91
29.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
$1.24 RON 5.39
40.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
$1.15 RON 4.99
120.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.89 RON 8.21
-37.04%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
$2.91 RON 12.65
-16.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
$8.30 RON 36.11
76.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
$6.93 RON 30.17
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
$11.51 RON 50.1
3.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
$0.91 RON 3.98
305.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$1.52 RON 6.63
5.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
$1.45 RON 6.30
85.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
$1.93 RON 8.41
20.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
$0.77 RON 3.34
148.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
$1.06 RON 4.59
106.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.00 RON 4.37
6.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.60 RON 2.63
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
$5.58 RON 24.26
-43.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
$6.85 RON 29.78
242.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
$0.94 RON 4.09
191.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
$1.54 RON 6.71
87.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,010
$0.67 RON 2.91
-56.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
$20.15 RON 87.6
-59.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,834
$1.12 RON 4.88
-59.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,278
$0.81 RON 3.51
-48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
$7.11 RON 30.94
-13.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
$1.54 RON 6.72
-45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
$28.1K RON 122.0K
-6.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
$26.0K RON 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)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$158 RON 688
-50.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
$7.95 RON 34.58
-50.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
$9.79 RON 42.57
149.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$41.00 RON 178
135.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
$19.13 RON 83.2
-66.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
$4.68 RON 20.34
-13.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$300 RON 1,305
0.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
$9,799 RON 42.6K
-33.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
$37.62 RON 164
43.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
$29.79 RON 130
27.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$72.9 RON 317
18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$73.0 RON 318
8.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$382 RON 1,660
165.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.6M
$285 RON 1,238
136.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
$588 RON 2,560
476.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
$446 RON 1,941
370.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
$1,648 RON 7,168
81.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
$1,371 RON 5,966
70.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$571 RON 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.

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