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: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,003 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,477 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,951 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 36% more expensive than in Sighetu Marmatiei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Sighetu Marmatiei is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
$8.81 RON 40.36
-60.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 644.2K
$21.75 RON 99.7
66.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
$7.88 RON 36.09
-27.54%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
$2.72 RON 12.44
-1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$1.97 RON 9.04
-11.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$1.80 RON 8.24
-51.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
$2.16 RON 9.88
36.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
$3.30 RON 15.13
36.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.56 RON 7.16
3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$1.12 RON 5.11
108.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.22 RON 5.59
-9.02%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$2.99 RON 13.72
-26.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.9K
$8.56 RON 39.22
106.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
$6.57 RON 30.09
-37.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
$9.36 RON 42.89
30.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
$1.12 RON 5.13
231.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$1.62 RON 7.42
-1.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
$1.52 RON 6.95
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
$1.44 RON 6.61
35.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$0.86 RON 3.96
122.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$0.99 RON 4.52
135.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$0.71 RON 3.27
42.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,791
$0.83 RON 3.81
-33.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$5.68 RON 26.02
-60.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 409.3K
$6.20 RON 28.42
272.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
$1.04 RON 4.78
132.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
$1.85 RON 8.50
62.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,823
$0.76 RON 3.48
-64.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
$23.04 RON 106
-61.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,582
$0.80 RON 3.66
-40.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,693
$0.74 RON 3.39
-41.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
$7.64 RON 35.01
-26.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.73 RON 7.94
-53.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 442.5M
$29.6K RON 135.8K
-15.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 562.6M
$26.6K RON 121.6K
19.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$144 RON 658
-43.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
$6.74 RON 30.88
-3.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 333.0K
$8.48 RON 38.87
121.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$40.20 RON 184
41.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 332.3K
$21.31 RON 97.6
-12.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
$4.44 RON 20.36
2.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$405 RON 1,855
18.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
$9,190 RON 42.1K
-37.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 807.5K
$62.4 RON 286
-27.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 636.6K
$38.51 RON 176
-6.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$57.4 RON 263
40.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$66.0 RON 302
19.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
$400 RON 1,832
178.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$304 RON 1,390
129.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
$627 RON 2,871
480.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$468 RON 2,142
271.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
$1,902 RON 8,713
46.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
$1,394 RON 6,387
64.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$547 RON 2,504
-69.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
7.1
94.08%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sighetu Marmatiei: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $400 in Sighetu Marmatiei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sighetu Marmatiei pays 225% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Sighetu Marmatiei for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $198 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 in Sighetu Marmatiei?
Ubud, Bali and Sighetu Marmatiei differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $1,003 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, salaries run 225% lower in Sighetu Marmatiei. 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 in Sighetu Marmatiei?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $400 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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,003 in Sighetu Marmatiei – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Sighetu Marmatiei?
A monthly transit pass in Sighetu Marmatiei runs roughly 157% 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 $1,003 in Sighetu Marmatiei versus $1,368 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 36% 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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