Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Bali vs $326 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Bali vs $521 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Bali vs $716 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Bali costs about 288% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Banda Aceh 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.12 Rp 533.4K

$7.01 Rp 124.1K

329.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 Rp 84.6K

$3.50 Rp 61.9K

36.57%

Cappuccino

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$1.26 Rp 22.3K

76.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 Rp 27.3K

$0.42 Rp 7,429

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 Rp 12.1K

$0.24 Rp 4,264

183.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

$2.51 Rp 44.4K

1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 Rp 63.9K

$3.93 Rp 69.6K

-8.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

-11.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

148.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

47.37%

Eggs

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$1.61 Rp 28.5K

26.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.93 Rp 299.7K

$8.58 Rp 151.9K

97.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 67.7K

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

53.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.86 Rp 210.1K

$6.83 Rp 120.9K

73.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.0K

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

51.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.2K

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

68.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

148.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 32.7K

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

110.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 Rp 32.2K

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

106.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$3.47 Rp 61.4K

-32.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,645

$0.45 Rp 7,985

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 Rp 37.6K

$3.17 Rp 56.2K

-33.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.02 Rp 390.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,805

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.14 Rp 144.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,537

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,215

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.67 Rp 11.9K

14.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.4K Rp 431.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.1K Rp 551.5M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$34.54 Rp 611.7K

135.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.60 Rp 117.0K

$2.36 Rp 41.8K

179.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.65 Rp 330.2K

$23.88 Rp 422.8K

-21.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.53 Rp 841.6K

$9.69 Rp 171.5K

390.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 Rp 270.6K

$13.38 Rp 237.0K

14.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 Rp 66.8K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 Rp 7.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,380 Rp 95.3M

$1,963 Rp 34.8M

174.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.93 Rp 795.6K

$28.52 Rp 505.1K

57.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.69 Rp 596.5K

$22.86 Rp 404.8K

47.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

$44.76 Rp 792.6K

73.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

$28.29 Rp 501.0K

173.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 Rp 17.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 Rp 10.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,156 Rp 55.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 Rp 27.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,456 Rp 43.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 Rp 35.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 Rp 3.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Bali: September 13, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali versus $7.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $137 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bali costs about 288% more than Banda Aceh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Bali and $490 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Bali and $326 in Banda Aceh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $326, than in Bali at $1,265. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Banda Aceh costs $326 versus $1,265 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.