🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $637 in Ambon versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in Ambon versus $2,887 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,375 in Ambon versus $4,082 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 54% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.10Rp 19.5K
$4.21Rp 74.6K
-73.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.40Rp 255.2K
$46.88Rp 830.8K
-69.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98Rp 70.5K
$6.86Rp 121.5K
-41.98%
Cappuccino
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$3.25Rp 57.5K
-54.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,226
$2.01Rp 35.7K
-77.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29Rp 5,127
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$3.21Rp 56.9K
-29.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55Rp 62.9K
$5.00Rp 88.6K
-29.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05Rp 18.6K
$1.61Rp 28.5K
-34.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05Rp 18.6K
$2.40Rp 42.5K
-56.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$1.22Rp 21.5K
-33.61%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.4K
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-35.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.20Rp 127.7K
$18.63Rp 330.1K
-61.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97Rp 52.6K
$4.27Rp 75.6K
-30.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.74Rp 137.1K
$12.94Rp 229.3K
-40.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.0K
$3.84Rp 68.0K
-41.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.8K
$1.62Rp 28.6K
-20.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76Rp 31.1K
$2.46Rp 43.6K
-28.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23Rp 21.9K
$2.07Rp 36.7K
-40.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.1K
$1.91Rp 33.9K
-31.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.2K
$2.52Rp 44.7K
-23.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79Rp 13.9K
$1.06Rp 18.8K
-25.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,727
$0.59Rp 10.4K
-25.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21Rp 39.1K
$2.46Rp 43.6K
-10.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.02Rp 354.9K
$24.68Rp 437.3K
-18.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88Rp 33.3K
$2.46Rp 43.5K
-23.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95Rp 52.4K
$3.01Rp 53.4K
-1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,562
$0.32Rp 5,654
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.05Rp 302.2K
$10.57Rp 187.3K
61.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,277
$0.61Rp 10.9K
-14.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,779
$0.60Rp 10.5K
-36.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.50Rp 44.3K
$2.56Rp 45.4K
-2.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-21.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7KRp 366.2M
$30.9KRp 547.3M
-33.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KRp 596.9M
$39.7KRp 704.4M
-15.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.1Rp 1.0M
$90.1Rp 1.6M
-34.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57Rp 98.7K
$7.01Rp 124.2K
-20.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.77Rp 350.3K
$20.74Rp 367.6K
-4.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.78Rp 386.0K
$63.9Rp 1.1M
-65.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.47Rp 167.9K
$21.78Rp 386.1K
-56.52%
Cinema Ticket
$1.43Rp 25.3K
$5.23Rp 92.7K
-72.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107Rp 1.9M
$553Rp 9.8M
-80.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,705Rp 136.5M
$6,619Rp 117.3M
16.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.48Rp 770.6K
$50.9Rp 901.8K
-14.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.83Rp 528.6K
$39.71Rp 703.7K
-24.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1Rp 1.3M
$89.7Rp 1.6M
-19.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$86.5Rp 1.5M
-16.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199Rp 3.5M
$1,546Rp 27.4M
-87.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$142Rp 2.5M
$925Rp 16.4M
-84.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$637Rp 11.3M
$4,743Rp 84.0M
-86.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313Rp 5.5M
$2,298Rp 40.7M
-86.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,193Rp 21.1M
$3,748Rp 66.4M
-68.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$652Rp 11.6M
$3,055Rp 54.1M
-78.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$123Rp 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
13.78
-31.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ambon: August 31, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Ambon and $1,546 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Ambon vs $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $309 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 166% 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 $955 in Ambon and $2,538 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: $199 in Ambon versus $1,546 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 $637 per month in Ambon versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 166% 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 61% 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 $637 in Ambon versus $1,692 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 $637 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 166% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.