🙂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: Ambon51% lower, Denpasar, Bali29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$2.35Rp 42.2K
-59.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.09Rp 216.5K
$21.69Rp 388.7K
-44.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$3.23Rp 58.0K
2.79%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 31.0K
$1.90Rp 34.1K
-8.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,159
$0.94Rp 16.9K
-45.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,266
$0.47Rp 8,337
-48.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.8K
$1.99Rp 35.6K
25.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52Rp 63.0K
$2.56Rp 45.8K
37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.1K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
-19.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 21.1K
$1.99Rp 35.6K
-40.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$0.98Rp 17.6K
-8.16%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.2K
$1.98Rp 35.5K
-23.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30Rp 148.7K
$11.75Rp 210.4K
-29.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$3.38Rp 60.5K
-6.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83Rp 140.3K
$9.83Rp 176.0K
-20.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.7K
$3.00Rp 53.8K
-20.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$1.30Rp 23.2K
10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.8K
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-17.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.81Rp 32.5K
-17.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$1.57Rp 28.1K
-15.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.5K
$1.78Rp 31.8K
5.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.5K
$0.80Rp 14.4K
21.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,379
$0.63Rp 11.2K
-34.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$2.59Rp 46.4K
-2.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.05Rp 377.1K
$18.61Rp 333.4K
13.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 36.0K
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-10.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 57.2K
$2.32Rp 41.5K
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,312
$0.24Rp 4,288
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.55Rp 171.1K
$7.50Rp 134.4K
27.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.41Rp 7,327
39.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,770
$0.38Rp 6,836
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.00Rp 53.7K
$5.61Rp 100.5K
-46.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$0.77Rp 13.7K
7.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.1M
$23.6KRp 422.0M
2.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 500.8M
$29.3KRp 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)
$68.6Rp 1.2M
$72.0Rp 1.3M
-4.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24Rp 75.9K
$3.69Rp 66.1K
14.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.52Rp 403.5K
$21.33Rp 382.1K
5.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.02Rp 412.4K
$68.8Rp 1.2M
-66.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.22Rp 111.4K
$4.53Rp 81.2K
37.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16Rp 56.6K
$2.89Rp 51.7K
9.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.2Rp 1.7M
$232Rp 4.2M
-59.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,658Rp 137.2M
$5,015Rp 89.9M
52.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09Rp 754.1K
$46.98Rp 841.7K
-10.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27Rp 542.2K
$32.75Rp 586.7K
-7.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$74.5Rp 1.3M
-9.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7Rp 1.3M
$67.3Rp 1.2M
11.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$515Rp 9.2M
-49.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.9M
$349Rp 6.3M
-54.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 10.3M
$1,780Rp 31.9M
-67.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$1,083Rp 19.4M
-68.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,330Rp 23.8M
$1,453Rp 26.0M
-8.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$685Rp 12.3M
$1,186Rp 21.3M
-42.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
$325Rp 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.