Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Ambon versus $1,265 in Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Ambon versus $2,300 in Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,373 in Ambon versus $3,334 in Bali.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 48% less than in Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon 50% lower, Bali 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.88 Rp 16.0K

$2.88 Rp 52.0K

-69.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.22 Rp 220.9K

$26.92 Rp 486.7K

-54.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.36 Rp 60.8K

$4.08 Rp 73.7K

-17.65%

Cappuccino

$1.74 Rp 31.4K

$2.29 Rp 41.4K

-24.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 Rp 9,200

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

-56.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,741

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-58.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 Rp 44.9K

$2.39 Rp 43.2K

4.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 Rp 62.4K

$3.33 Rp 60.2K

3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 Rp 21.5K

$1.70 Rp 30.7K

-30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 21.0K

$2.38 Rp 43.1K

-51.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.8K

$1.14 Rp 20.6K

-18.42%

Eggs

$1.55 Rp 28.0K

$2.33 Rp 42.2K

-33.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 Rp 148.0K

$14.18 Rp 256.5K

-42.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 Rp 56.3K

$4.14 Rp 74.8K

-24.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 Rp 145.9K

$11.65 Rp 210.7K

-30.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 42.2K

$3.47 Rp 62.8K

-32.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.52 Rp 27.5K

-1.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 Rp 32.8K

$2.59 Rp 46.8K

-29.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

$2.13 Rp 38.5K

-26.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 24.0K

$1.81 Rp 32.7K

-26.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

$2.19 Rp 39.6K

-13.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 Rp 17.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,125

$0.72 Rp 13.1K

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 46.0K

$3.02 Rp 54.5K

-15.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.90 Rp 359.8K

$21.76 Rp 393.4K

-8.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 Rp 38.5K

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

-20.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 55.5K

$2.69 Rp 48.7K

14.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,787

$0.27 Rp 4,838

18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.70 Rp 175.4K

$8.22 Rp 148.6K

18.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.3K

$0.46 Rp 8,240

23.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,747

$0.42 Rp 7,603

-11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 Rp 53.1K

$6.23 Rp 112.6K

-52.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 15.1K

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

5.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K Rp 446.7M

$26.2K Rp 473.8M

-5.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.6K Rp 498.2M

$32.6K Rp 589.6M

-15.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

$80.2 Rp 1.4M

-11.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.21 Rp 76.1K

$3.93 Rp 71.0K

7.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.67 Rp 409.9K

$23.58 Rp 426.3K

-3.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.43 Rp 423.6K

$80.3 Rp 1.5M

-70.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 Rp 108.5K

$5.51 Rp 99.6K

8.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 54.9K

$3.47 Rp 62.7K

-12.39%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$91.5 Rp 1.7M

$277 Rp 5.0M

-66.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,444 Rp 134.6M

$6,008 Rp 108.6M

23.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.02 Rp 759.7K

$51.4 Rp 928.8K

-18.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.12 Rp 562.6K

$36.41 Rp 658.4K

-14.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

$82.5 Rp 1.5M

-18.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.5 Rp 1.3M

$74.8 Rp 1.4M

-3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 Rp 4.7M

$867 Rp 15.7M

-69.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.9M

$574 Rp 10.4M

-72.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 Rp 10.5M

$2,974 Rp 53.8M

-80.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 Rp 5.9M

$1,779 Rp 32.2M

-81.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,166 Rp 21.1M

$2,411 Rp 43.6M

-51.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$611 Rp 11.0M

$1,981 Rp 35.8M

-69.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.1M

$224 Rp 4.1M

-24.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.28

-31.10%

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

Last update for Ambon: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bali: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Ambon and $867 in Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bali pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Ambon vs $27.00 in Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $285 per month, with Ambon 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

Ambon vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 91% lower than in Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Ambon versus $867 in Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Ambon versus $1,265 in Bali – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 18% less than in Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in Ambon versus $1,265 in Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ambon and Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.