🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $668 in Ambon versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Ambon versus $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Ambon versus $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🌍Living in Ambon costs roughly 62% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 50% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.96Rp 17.3K
$4.27Rp 76.3K
-77.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.48Rp 223.2K
$39.90Rp 713.9K
-68.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 59.2K
$6.16Rp 110.1K
-46.27%
Cappuccino
$1.68Rp 30.1K
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-48.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,866
$1.62Rp 29.0K
-66.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,682
$0.89Rp 15.8K
-70.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 44.9K
$3.53Rp 63.2K
-28.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50Rp 62.7K
$4.76Rp 85.1K
-26.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-37.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$2.63Rp 47.1K
-55.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$1.27Rp 22.7K
-30.71%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 27.4K
$2.57Rp 45.9K
-40.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18Rp 146.3K
$15.13Rp 270.6K
-45.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 55.3K
$4.37Rp 78.2K
-29.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.04Rp 143.8K
$12.43Rp 222.3K
-35.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.3K
$3.96Rp 70.9K
-41.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44Rp 25.7K
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-11.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.2K
$2.90Rp 51.9K
-37.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.7K
$2.35Rp 42.0K
-34.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.7K
$2.00Rp 35.8K
-33.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$2.30Rp 41.2K
-14.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.08Rp 19.3K
-12.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,952
$0.81Rp 14.5K
-45.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 45.2K
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-22.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.83Rp 354.8K
$24.45Rp 437.4K
-18.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13Rp 38.0K
$2.89Rp 51.8K
-26.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09Rp 55.4K
$2.87Rp 51.3K
7.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,774
$0.36Rp 6,489
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.00Rp 178.9K
$10.28Rp 184.0K
-2.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58Rp 10.3K
$0.57Rp 10.1K
1.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,156
$0.57Rp 10.2K
-40.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.84Rp 50.9K
$7.63Rp 136.4K
-62.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.6K
$1.06Rp 18.9K
-22.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 439.4M
$32.2KRp 575.4M
-23.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 500.1M
$40.3KRp 720.3M
-30.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.6Rp 1.2M
$88.2Rp 1.6M
-22.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23Rp 75.6K
$4.47Rp 80.0K
-5.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.66Rp 405.4K
$26.05Rp 466.1K
-13.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.66Rp 405.3K
$115Rp 2.1M
-80.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 107.7K
$7.75Rp 138.7K
-22.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09Rp 55.2K
$4.70Rp 84.1K
-34.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.2Rp 1.7M
$339Rp 6.1M
-72.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,695Rp 137.7M
$7,595Rp 135.9M
1.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.17Rp 736.5K
$60.8Rp 1.1M
-32.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.46Rp 544.9K
$42.63Rp 762.7K
-28.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.6Rp 1.2M
$97.9Rp 1.8M
-30.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5Rp 1.3M
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-13.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$1,369Rp 24.5M
-81.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$920Rp 16.5M
-82.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.4M
$4,495Rp 80.4M
-87.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327Rp 5.9M
$2,803Rp 50.2M
-88.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,059Rp 18.9M
$3,751Rp 67.1M
-71.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$671Rp 12.0M
$3,040Rp 54.4M
-77.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
-
-
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 12, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Ambon and $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Ambon vs $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $312 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ambon or Uluwatu, Bali?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 163% lower than in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ambon and in Uluwatu, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,002 in Ambon and $2,638 in Uluwatu, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ambon compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $258 in Ambon versus $1,369 in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $668 per month in Ambon versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 163% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 3% less than in Uluwatu, 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 in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $668 in Ambon versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $668 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ambon and Uluwatu, 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 163% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.