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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $653 in Ambon versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,004 in Ambon versus $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,354 in Ambon versus $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 31% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon 51% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-59.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.09 Rp 216.5K
$21.69 Rp 388.7K
-44.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$3.23 Rp 58.0K
2.79%
Cappuccino
$1.73 Rp 31.0K
$1.90 Rp 34.1K
-8.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,159
$0.94 Rp 16.9K
-45.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,266
$0.47 Rp 8,337
-48.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 Rp 44.8K
$1.99 Rp 35.6K
25.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 Rp 63.0K
$2.56 Rp 45.8K
37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
-19.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$1.99 Rp 35.6K
-40.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
-8.16%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 27.2K
$1.98 Rp 35.5K
-23.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.30 Rp 148.7K
$11.75 Rp 210.4K
-29.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 Rp 56.4K
$3.38 Rp 60.5K
-6.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.83 Rp 140.3K
$9.83 Rp 176.0K
-20.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 42.7K
$3.00 Rp 53.8K
-20.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 Rp 25.6K
$1.30 Rp 23.2K
10.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 33.8K
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-17.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
$1.81 Rp 32.5K
-17.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
-15.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
$1.78 Rp 31.8K
5.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.5K
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
21.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,379
$0.63 Rp 11.2K
-34.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$2.59 Rp 46.4K
-2.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.05 Rp 377.1K
$18.61 Rp 333.4K
13.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 Rp 36.0K
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-10.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 Rp 57.2K
$2.32 Rp 41.5K
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,312
$0.24 Rp 4,288
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.55 Rp 171.1K
$7.50 Rp 134.4K
27.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.41 Rp 7,327
39.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,770
$0.38 Rp 6,836
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 Rp 53.7K
$5.61 Rp 100.5K
-46.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
7.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 433.1M
$23.6K Rp 422.0M
2.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K Rp 500.8M
$29.3K Rp 524.1M
-4.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.6 Rp 1.2M
$72.0 Rp 1.3M
-4.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
$3.69 Rp 66.1K
14.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.52 Rp 403.5K
$21.33 Rp 382.1K
5.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.02 Rp 412.4K
$68.8 Rp 1.2M
-66.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.22 Rp 111.4K
$4.53 Rp 81.2K
37.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16 Rp 56.6K
$2.89 Rp 51.7K
9.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.2 Rp 1.7M
$232 Rp 4.2M
-59.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,658 Rp 137.2M
$5,015 Rp 89.9M
52.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09 Rp 754.1K
$46.98 Rp 841.7K
-10.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27 Rp 542.2K
$32.75 Rp 586.7K
-7.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 Rp 1.2M
$74.5 Rp 1.3M
-9.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7 Rp 1.3M
$67.3 Rp 1.2M
11.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 Rp 4.7M
$515 Rp 9.2M
-49.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 Rp 2.9M
$349 Rp 6.3M
-54.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 Rp 10.3M
$1,780 Rp 31.9M
-67.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 Rp 6.1M
$1,083 Rp 19.4M
-68.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,330 Rp 23.8M
$1,453 Rp 26.0M
-8.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$685 Rp 12.3M
$1,186 Rp 21.3M
-42.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$325 Rp 5.8M
-47.95%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Ambon and $515 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 92% 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 $208 vs $241 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 45% 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 92% 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: $260 in Ambon versus $515 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 $653 per month in Ambon versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali – a 45% 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 27% 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 $653 in Ambon versus $950 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 $653 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 45% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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