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