Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Uluwatu, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ambon: $635 a month against $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ambon
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$635
/mo nomad
Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ambon and in Uluwatu, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ambon and in Uluwatu, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $635 in Ambon versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Ambon $635
  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,020 in Ambon versus $2,873 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Ambon $1,020
  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,873

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,405 in Ambon versus $4,054 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Ambon $1,405
  • Uluwatu, Bali $4,054

Living in Ambon costs roughly 62% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 53% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.13 Rp 20.3K
$3.94 Rp 70.9K
-71.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.05 Rp 253.0K
$42.05 Rp 757.0K
-66.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.01 Rp 72.2K
$6.72 Rp 120.9K
-40.33%
Cappuccino
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
$3.25 Rp 58.5K
-52.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,295
$2.09 Rp 37.5K
-77.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 Rp 5,194
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
-69.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 Rp 41.2K
$3.14 Rp 56.6K
-27.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 Rp 63.3K
$5.44 Rp 97.9K
-35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 Rp 19.2K
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
-34.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$2.38 Rp 42.9K
-58.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
-34.11%
Eggs
$1.36 Rp 24.6K
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
-40.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.31 Rp 131.6K
$18.59 Rp 334.5K
-60.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$4.18 Rp 75.2K
-30.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 Rp 138.6K
$12.92 Rp 232.5K
-40.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.8K
$3.72 Rp 66.9K
-38.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$1.66 Rp 29.8K
-23.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 Rp 31.5K
$2.48 Rp 44.6K
-29.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$2.02 Rp 36.3K
-37.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 Rp 22.2K
$1.94 Rp 35.0K
-36.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 36.0K
$2.53 Rp 45.5K
-20.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
$1.04 Rp 18.7K
-24.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,290
$0.51 Rp 9,237
-21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
-7.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.92 Rp 376.6K
$23.90 Rp 430.2K
-12.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 Rp 34.1K
$2.48 Rp 44.7K
-23.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
$3.15 Rp 56.7K
-5.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,704
$0.30 Rp 5,310
6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.76 Rp 301.7K
$10.28 Rp 185.1K
63.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 Rp 9,350
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
-13.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,605
$0.52 Rp 9,437
-28.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 Rp 50.2K
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
2.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
-26.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K Rp 389.6M
$29.9K Rp 538.1M
-27.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K Rp 486.7M
$39.6K Rp 712.6M
-31.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.8 Rp 1.3M
$89.3 Rp 1.6M
-19.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.66 Rp 101.9K
$7.09 Rp 127.7K
-20.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.20 Rp 345.7K
$20.79 Rp 374.2K
-7.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.92 Rp 358.5K
$63.6 Rp 1.1M
-68.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.58 Rp 136.5K
$20.80 Rp 374.5K
-63.56%
Cinema Ticket
$1.42 Rp 25.6K
$5.01 Rp 90.1K
-71.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.7 Rp 1.5M
$560 Rp 10.1M
-84.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,772 Rp 157.9M
$6,562 Rp 118.1M
33.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.14 Rp 776.5K
$49.97 Rp 899.5K
-13.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.52 Rp 495.3K
$38.06 Rp 685.1K
-27.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.0 Rp 1.3M
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
-17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
$87.5 Rp 1.6M
-17.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$242 Rp 4.4M
$1,518 Rp 27.3M
-84.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$143 Rp 2.6M
$933 Rp 16.8M
-84.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 Rp 9.6M
$4,875 Rp 87.7M
-89.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 Rp 6.9M
$2,323 Rp 41.8M
-83.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,030 Rp 18.5M
$3,738 Rp 67.3M
-72.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$805 Rp 14.5M
$3,108 Rp 55.9M
-74.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$124 Rp 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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ambon
$194
Uluwatu, Bali
$306 57.6% $112
Accommodation & Living
Ambon
$143
Uluwatu, Bali
$933 553% $790
Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
$97
Uluwatu, Bali
$119 22.5% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
$97
Uluwatu, Bali
$117 21.2% $21
Eating Out
Ambon
$61
Uluwatu, Bali
$129 112% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
$23
Uluwatu, Bali
$74 224% $51
Getting Around
Ambon
$20
Uluwatu, Bali
$15 28% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Ambon and $1,518 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Ambon vs $42.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $306 per month, with Ambon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ambon
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🕒 Local time
07:34 7:34 AM
06:34 6:34 AM
1 h behind Ambon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
275,888
5,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ambon Uluwatu, Bali 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ambon
  • Uluwatu, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 167% 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 $952 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: $242 in Ambon versus $1,518 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 $635 per month in Ambon versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 167% 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 63% 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 $635 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 $635 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 167% 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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