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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $979 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,413 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,847 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 42% more expensive than in Sighetu Marmatiei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Sighetu Marmatiei is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$6.83 RON 31.07
-47.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$22.66 RON 103
42.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$6.55 RON 29.77
-23.51%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$1.93 RON 8.78
46.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$2.01 RON 9.13
-32.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.64 RON 7.46
-55.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$2.01 RON 9.13
45.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$3.06 RON 13.91
28.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.20 RON 5.45
48.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$1.13 RON 5.14
116.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.88 RON 8.53
-38.83%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$2.86 RON 13.00
-15.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$8.63 RON 39.24
66.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$7.11 RON 32.34
-41.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$11.47 RON 52.2
5.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$0.98 RON 4.43
271.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.58 RON 7.20
-0.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.51 RON 6.86
84.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.91 RON 8.70
17.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$0.78 RON 3.57
153.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.05 RON 4.78
117.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$1.04 RON 4.71
0.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.59 RON 2.70
33.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$5.61 RON 25.49
-43.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$6.00 RON 27.28
291.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$0.95 RON 4.30
205.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$1.54 RON 7.02
79.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.70 RON 3.19
-61.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$19.81 RON 90.1
-57.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$1.18 RON 5.37
-61.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$0.82 RON 3.72
-43.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$6.71 RON 30.53
-9.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.58 RON 7.18
-45.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$28.1K RON 127.7K
-5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$25.5K RON 116.1K
27.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$162 RON 735
-51.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$7.96 RON 36.17
-48.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$9.79 RON 44.49
143.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$41.84 RON 190
136.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$19.15 RON 87.1
-66.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$4.56 RON 20.74
-12.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$306 RON 1,390
-2.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$9,930 RON 45.1K
-33.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$37.63 RON 171
41.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$30.23 RON 137
26.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$75.0 RON 341
18.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$72.1 RON 328
6.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$391 RON 1,778
160.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$289 RON 1,312
135.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$599 RON 2,723
479.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$433 RON 1,968
382.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$2,240 RON 10.2K
21.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$1,301 RON 5,916
76.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$542 RON 2,463
-69.78%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sighetu Marmatiei: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $391 in Sighetu Marmatiei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sighetu Marmatiei pays 231% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $23.00 in Sighetu Marmatiei for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $204 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 42% in total monthly costs ($1,392 vs $979 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 231% 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $391 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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $979 in Sighetu Marmatiei – a 42% 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 137% 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 $979 in Sighetu Marmatiei versus $1,392 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 42% 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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