For one person, living is cheaper in Ambala: $357 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bali and in Ambala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $357 in Ambala, rent included.
Bali $1,187
Ambala $357
A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $558 in Ambala, rent included.
Bali $2,004
Ambala $558
A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $760 in Ambala, rent included.
Bali $2,822
Ambala $760
😐
Bali costs about 233% more than Ambala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Bali and Ambala are more affordable than the global median – Bali12% lower, Ambala74% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80Rp 50.7K
$3.10₹292
-9.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85Rp 522.3K
$10.54₹990
173.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.76Rp 86.2K
$2.91₹274
63.57%
Cappuccino
$2.23Rp 40.4K
$1.73₹163
28.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$0.39₹36.43
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 10.2K
$0.16₹14.84
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23Rp 40.5K
$1.66₹156
34.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55Rp 64.3K
$3.13₹294
13.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41Rp 25.4K
$0.71₹67.0
98.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18Rp 39.5K
$0.44₹41.39
395.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05Rp 18.9K
$0.77₹72.2
36.36%
Eggs
$1.92Rp 34.8K
$1.03₹96.6
86.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.84Rp 268.7K
$1.81₹170
719.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.86Rp 69.9K
$3.37₹316
14.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.69Rp 193.4K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.34Rp 60.4K
$1.95₹183
71.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.4K
$0.66₹62.2
121.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22Rp 40.3K
$1.03₹96.6
115.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.7K
$0.44₹41.29
309.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72Rp 31.1K
$0.29₹27.16
493.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23Rp 40.3K
$0.20₹18.76
1015.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.6K
$0.38₹35.51
142.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,333
$0.29₹27.18
58.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06Rp 37.2K
$4.22₹396
-51.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.38Rp 368.9K
$6.91₹649
194.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16Rp 39.2K
$1.58₹148
36.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85Rp 51.6K
$2.72₹256
4.78%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.51₹612
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Ambala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,544
$0.20₹18.74
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.68Rp 157.2K
$6.89₹647
25.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,980
$1.04₹97.6
-57.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,789
$0.27₹25.42
59.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.38Rp 97.5K
$1.62₹152
232.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.4K
$0.94₹88.1
-9.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KRp 429.8M
$8,788₹825.2K
170.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9KRp 594.7M
$18.7K₹1.8M
75.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$43.60₹4,094
76.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33Rp 114.5K
$3.64₹342
73.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93Rp 342.7K
$6.50₹611
191.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.65Rp 754.0K
$14.23₹1,336
192.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78Rp 267.5K
$6.46₹606
128.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58Rp 64.8K
$2.85₹268
25.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437Rp 7.9M
$41.48₹3,895
953.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KRp 199.8M
$1,577₹148.1K
599.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09Rp 780.0K
$21.93₹2,060
96.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51Rp 606.6K
$23.23₹2,181
44.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0Rp 1.4M
$41.30₹3,878
81.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9Rp 1.3M
$23.90₹2,244
209.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Ambala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$957Rp 17.3M
$78.7₹7,385
1117.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570Rp 10.3M
$57.6₹5,405
889.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,028Rp 54.8M
$207₹19.5K
1359.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446Rp 26.2M
$128₹12.0K
1029.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,096Rp 37.9M
$914₹85.8K
129.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,885Rp 34.1M
$527₹49.5K
257.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Ambala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$215Rp 3.9M
$468₹44.0K
-54.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
8.25
67.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026
Last update for Ambala: October 31, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$570 48%
Ambala
$58 16.1% ↓ 89.9%$512
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263 22.2%
Ambala
$94 26.5% ↓ 64.1%$169
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102 8.6%
Ambala
$54 15.1% ↓ 47.3%$48
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101 8.6%
Ambala
$50 13.9% ↓ 51.1%$52
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$89 7.5%
Ambala
$71 20% ↓ 20.3%$18
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49 4.1%
Ambala
$20 5.6% ↓ 59.1%$29
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$12 1%
Ambala
$10 2.8% ↓ 17.9%$2.2
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$1.4K 51.2%
Ambala
$128 16.9% ↓ 91.1%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$589 20.9%
Ambala
$203 26.8% ↓ 65.5%$386
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$108 3.8%
Ambala
$57 7.6% ↓ 47%$51
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$225 8%
Ambala
$110 14.5% ↓ 51.1%$115
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$315 11.2%
Ambala
$194 25.5% ↓ 38.5%$122
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$112 4%
Ambala
$46 6.1% ↓ 58.8%$66
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$25 0.9%
Ambala
$21 2.7% ↓ 18%$4.5
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Bali versus $79 in Ambala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries in Ambala are about 2.2 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali versus $11 in Ambala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $94 – making Ambala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bali vs Ambala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ambala cheaper than Bali?
Yes – Bali is pricier by about 233%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $535 in Ambala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambala, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $79 there versus $957 in Bali.
What are total monthly expenses in Bali and in Ambala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Bali and $357 in Ambala. That makes Ambala about 70% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 21% less in Ambala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Bali or in Ambala?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambala, where all-in costs run around $357, than in Bali at $1,187. In Ambala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bali or Ambala more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ambala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Ambala is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 70% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.