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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $668 in Ambon versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,023 in Ambon versus $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,378 in Ambon versus $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 61% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 50% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.96 Rp 17.2K
$4.14 Rp 74.0K
-76.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.24 Rp 218.5K
$38.93 Rp 695.2K
-68.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 Rp 59.3K
$5.99 Rp 106.9K
-44.57%
Cappuccino
$1.66 Rp 29.7K
$3.39 Rp 60.6K
-51.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,671
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
-66.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,282
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
-72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 Rp 45.1K
$3.53 Rp 63.1K
-28.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 Rp 62.3K
$4.59 Rp 81.9K
-23.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.9K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
-32.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 Rp 20.8K
$2.66 Rp 47.5K
-56.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 16.5K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
-23.14%
Eggs
$1.59 Rp 28.4K
$2.53 Rp 45.2K
-37.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.96 Rp 142.1K
$15.46 Rp 276.0K
-48.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 Rp 56.1K
$4.56 Rp 81.4K
-31.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.84 Rp 140.0K
$12.51 Rp 223.4K
-37.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
$3.90 Rp 69.6K
-41.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-8.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
$2.91 Rp 52.0K
-38.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.6K
$2.38 Rp 42.4K
-35.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.6K
$2.06 Rp 36.8K
-35.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.8K
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
-17.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,310
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
-44.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45 Rp 43.7K
$3.28 Rp 58.6K
-25.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.81 Rp 389.4K
$25.10 Rp 448.3K
-13.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 Rp 37.2K
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-30.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 55.6K
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
7.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,302
$0.34 Rp 6,057
-11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.07 Rp 179.8K
$10.40 Rp 185.7K
-3.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,472
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
-11.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,137
$0.54 Rp 9,583
-37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
$7.56 Rp 135.0K
-61.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
-25.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K Rp 430.3M
$32.2K Rp 574.5M
-25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K Rp 494.3M
$39.4K Rp 703.6M
-29.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
-19.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.70 Rp 405.3K
$26.50 Rp 473.2K
-14.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.39 Rp 417.7K
$112 Rp 2.0M
-79.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.25 Rp 111.6K
$7.62 Rp 136.1K
-17.98%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02 Rp 53.9K
$4.77 Rp 85.2K
-36.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.0 Rp 1.7M
$347 Rp 6.2M
-73.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,536 Rp 134.6M
$7,491 Rp 133.8M
0.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.81 Rp 746.6K
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
-30.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.35 Rp 542.0K
$42.64 Rp 761.4K
-28.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
$97.5 Rp 1.7M
-30.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0 Rp 1.3M
$85.2 Rp 1.5M
-14.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 Rp 4.7M
$1,335 Rp 23.8M
-80.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 Rp 2.8M
$921 Rp 16.5M
-82.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$594 Rp 10.6M
$4,567 Rp 81.6M
-87.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 Rp 6.0M
$2,786 Rp 49.8M
-87.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,080 Rp 19.3M
$3,712 Rp 66.3M
-70.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$711 Rp 12.7M
$3,139 Rp 56.1M
-77.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$175 Rp 3.1M
-
-
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Ambon and $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Ambon vs $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $315 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 155% 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 vs Uluwatu, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,001 in Ambon and $2,550 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 vs Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Ambon versus $1,335 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 $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon vs 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
At $668 in Ambon versus $1,700 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 155% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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