🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in Ambon versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,036 in Ambon versus $1,630 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,397 in Ambon versus $2,320 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Living in Ambon costs roughly 28% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon50% lower, Denpasar, Bali30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.87Rp 15.1K
$2.38Rp 41.2K
-63.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.06Rp 208.2K
$21.86Rp 377.5K
-44.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.41Rp 58.8K
$3.30Rp 57.0K
3.33%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 28.6K
$1.90Rp 32.9K
-13.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,335
$0.89Rp 15.4K
-39.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,504
$0.49Rp 8,490
-46.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 43.3K
$1.95Rp 33.7K
28.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45Rp 59.5K
$2.51Rp 43.4K
37.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.2K
$1.41Rp 24.3K
-12.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$2.04Rp 35.3K
-45.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 16.4K
$0.96Rp 16.6K
-1.04%
Eggs
$1.57Rp 27.1K
$2.00Rp 34.6K
-21.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04Rp 138.9K
$11.70Rp 202.1K
-31.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.15Rp 54.4K
$3.43Rp 59.2K
-8.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.76Rp 134.1K
$9.53Rp 164.5K
-18.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 41.2K
$3.10Rp 53.6K
-22.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.8K
$1.26Rp 21.7K
18.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88Rp 32.5K
$2.29Rp 39.5K
-17.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 25.9K
$1.87Rp 32.3K
-19.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.5K
$1.62Rp 27.9K
-16.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 32.6K
$1.78Rp 30.8K
6.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.4K
$0.81Rp 14.0K
17.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,227
$0.58Rp 9,961
-27.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.0K
$2.64Rp 45.7K
-3.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.04Rp 380.5K
$19.10Rp 329.9K
15.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11Rp 36.4K
$2.32Rp 40.0K
-9.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20Rp 55.2K
$2.26Rp 39.0K
41.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,125
$0.26Rp 4,510
15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12Rp 174.7K
$7.43Rp 128.2K
36.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,162
$0.40Rp 6,892
32.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,453
$0.41Rp 7,161
-9.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 50.9K
$5.40Rp 93.2K
-45.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.3K
$0.76Rp 13.1K
9.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 431.1M
$23.2KRp 401.1M
7.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRp 473.9M
$28.4KRp 491.0M
-3.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.6Rp 1.2M
$73.2Rp 1.3M
-3.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 74.6K
$3.67Rp 63.4K
17.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.52Rp 388.8K
$21.40Rp 369.5K
5.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.17Rp 400.0K
$69.5Rp 1.2M
-66.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.09Rp 105.2K
$4.67Rp 80.6K
30.41%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13Rp 54.0K
$2.81Rp 48.6K
11.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.9Rp 1.6M
$234Rp 4.0M
-60.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,453Rp 128.7M
$5,114Rp 88.3M
45.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.91Rp 706.4K
$46.27Rp 798.8K
-11.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.37Rp 524.4K
$32.20Rp 556.0K
-5.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.5Rp 1.1M
$74.0Rp 1.3M
-10.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8Rp 1.3M
$67.2Rp 1.2M
8.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.5M
$512Rp 8.8M
-48.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.7M
$344Rp 5.9M
-54.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586Rp 10.1M
$1,804Rp 31.1M
-67.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 5.8M
$1,064Rp 18.4M
-68.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,052Rp 18.2M
$1,591Rp 27.5M
-33.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$883Rp 15.2M
$1,226Rp 21.2M
-27.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$177Rp 3.1M
$293Rp 5.1M
-39.61%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Ambon and $512 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 66% 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 $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $242 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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ambon or Denpasar, Bali?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Denpasar, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ambon or Denpasar, Bali?
On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 66% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ambon vs Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Ambon versus $512 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ambon compared to Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $675 per month in Ambon versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon vs Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 36% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ambon or Denpasar, Bali?
At $675 in Ambon versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ambon or Denpasar, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $675 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.
How safe is Ambon compared to Denpasar, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ambon and Denpasar, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.