Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Banda Aceh

For one person, living is cheaper in Banda Aceh: $319 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,187
/mo nomad
Banda Aceh
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$319
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Banda Aceh

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 Banda Aceh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $319 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

  • Bali $1,187
  • Banda Aceh $319

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $510 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

  • Bali $2,004
  • Banda Aceh $510

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $701 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

  • Bali $2,822
  • Banda Aceh $701

Bali costs about 272% more than Banda Aceh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Bali 12% lower, Banda Aceh 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 Rp 50.9K
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
23.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85 Rp 524.0K
$7.09 Rp 128.7K
306.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 Rp 86.5K
$3.35 Rp 60.8K
42.09%
Cappuccino
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.22 Rp 22.2K
82.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 Rp 23.5K
$0.38 Rp 6,884
242.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.2K
$0.21 Rp 3,806
166.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.6K
$2.41 Rp 43.8K
-7.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 Rp 64.5K
$3.79 Rp 68.8K
-6.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 Rp 25.5K
$1.62 Rp 29.4K
-12.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.6K
$0.85 Rp 15.5K
156.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
29.63%
Eggs
$1.92 Rp 34.9K
$1.55 Rp 28.2K
23.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 Rp 269.5K
$8.47 Rp 153.9K
75.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 70.1K
$2.41 Rp 43.8K
60.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 Rp 194.1K
$6.46 Rp 117.4K
65.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 Rp 60.6K
$2.15 Rp 39.0K
55.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$0.84 Rp 15.3K
73.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$0.81 Rp 14.8K
174.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.8K
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
127.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 31.2K
$0.84 Rp 15.3K
104.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$3.35 Rp 60.8K
-33.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 Rp 16.6K
$0.86 Rp 15.7K
6.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,360
$0.40 Rp 7,248
15.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 Rp 37.3K
$2.94 Rp 53.4K
-29.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.38 Rp 370.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 Rp 39.3K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 51.7K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,559
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.68 Rp 157.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 8,006
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,814
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 Rp 97.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$0.88 Rp 16.0K
-3.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 431.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K Rp 596.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$33.04 Rp 600.1K
132.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 114.9K
$2.27 Rp 41.3K
178.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 Rp 343.8K
$23.59 Rp 428.5K
-19.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 Rp 756.4K
$9.48 Rp 172.1K
339.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 Rp 268.3K
$13.23 Rp 240.2K
11.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 Rp 65.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K Rp 200.5M
$1,910 Rp 34.7M
477.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09 Rp 782.5K
$27.71 Rp 503.2K
55.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51 Rp 608.5K
$22.33 Rp 405.5K
50.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$43.51 Rp 790.2K
72.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 Rp 1.3M
$27.47 Rp 498.9K
168.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 Rp 17.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 Rp 10.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 Rp 55.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 Rp 26.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 Rp 38.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,885 Rp 34.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$570
Banda Aceh
–
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263
Banda Aceh
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102
Banda Aceh
–
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Banda Aceh
–
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Banda Aceh
–
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49
Banda Aceh
–
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Banda Aceh
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali versus $7 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $131 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇮🇩 Banda Aceh
🕒 Local time
04:42 4:42 AM
03:42 3:42 AM
1 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
223,446
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,310 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Banda Aceh 2,710 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Banda Aceh

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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Banda Aceh?
Bali costs about 272% more than Banda Aceh, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali and in Banda Aceh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $479 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Banda Aceh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Bali and $319 in Banda Aceh. That makes Banda Aceh about 73% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Bali or in Banda Aceh?
Groceries cost about 100% more in Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Banda Aceh?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Bali at $1,187. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bali or Banda Aceh?
It depends on your priorities. Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $319 in Banda Aceh to $1,187 in Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Bali compared to Banda Aceh?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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