For one person, living is cheaper in Batam: $586 a month against $1,214 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 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 Batam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,214 per month in Bali vs $586 in Batam, rent included.
Bali $1,214
Batam $586
A couple spends around $2,047 per month in Bali vs $984 in Batam, rent included.
Bali $2,047
Batam $984
A family of three spends $2,880 per month in Bali vs $1,382 in Batam, rent included.
Bali $2,880
Batam $1,382
😐
Bali costs about 107% more than Batam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Bali and Batam are more affordable than the global median – Bali11% lower, Batam57% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73Rp 49.5K
$1.95Rp 35.3K
40.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.91Rp 523.9K
$8.07Rp 146.3K
258.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56Rp 82.6K
$3.90Rp 70.7K
16.92%
Cappuccino
$2.26Rp 41.0K
$2.05Rp 37.1K
10.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43Rp 25.8K
$0.61Rp 11.0K
134.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68Rp 12.4K
$0.30Rp 5,449
126.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23Rp 40.3K
$2.47Rp 44.7K
-9.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68Rp 66.7K
$3.66Rp 66.4K
0.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Batam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49Rp 27.0K
$1.12Rp 20.3K
33.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18Rp 39.6K
$1.09Rp 19.8K
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.6K
$0.81Rp 14.7K
40.74%
Eggs
$2.02Rp 36.6K
$1.22Rp 22.1K
65.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.81Rp 304.5K
$7.45Rp 135.0K
125.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57Rp 64.7K
$2.47Rp 44.8K
44.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.31Rp 204.9K
$4.31Rp 78.1K
162.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44Rp 62.4K
$2.17Rp 39.2K
58.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.4K
$2.00Rp 36.2K
-24.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.7K
$1.97Rp 35.8K
11.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88Rp 34.1K
$1.03Rp 18.7K
82.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71Rp 31.0K
$0.95Rp 17.2K
80.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32Rp 42.0K
$1.96Rp 35.5K
18.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 18.0K
$1.29Rp 23.4K
-23.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 9,057
$0.44Rp 8,036
13.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03Rp 36.8K
$2.72Rp 49.3K
-25.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.49Rp 389.4K
$13.78Rp 249.8K
55.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14Rp 38.7K
$1.68Rp 30.4K
27.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 52.0K
$2.33Rp 42.3K
23.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,557
$0.41Rp 7,419
-39.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.82Rp 159.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,145
$1.13Rp 20.5K
-60.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44Rp 7,967
$0.58Rp 10.6K
-24.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.48Rp 99.3K
$3.42Rp 62.0K
60.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$0.84Rp 15.2K
5.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 440.3M
$27.6KRp 499.6M
-11.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KRp 578.8M
$24.6KRp 445.8M
29.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$67.8Rp 1.2M
17.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55Rp 118.7K
$4.09Rp 74.2K
60.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48Rp 334.9K
$22.58Rp 409.2K
-18.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.66Rp 736.7K
$27.03Rp 489.9K
50.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93Rp 270.5K
$5.66Rp 102.5K
163.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67Rp 66.4K
$2.66Rp 48.3K
37.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437Rp 7.9M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
426.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,063Rp 91.7M
$3,186Rp 57.7M
58.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Batam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.62Rp 790.4K
$31.46Rp 570.0K
38.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.69Rp 592.4K
$17.99Rp 326.0K
81.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6Rp 1.3M
$64.4Rp 1.2M
14.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3Rp 1.3M
$23.72Rp 429.9K
213.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984Rp 17.8M
$265Rp 4.8M
271.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$583Rp 10.6M
$145Rp 2.6M
301.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,121Rp 56.5M
$796Rp 14.4M
291.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,475Rp 26.7M
$499Rp 9.0M
195.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,447Rp 44.3M
$542Rp 9.8M
351.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,963Rp 35.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$215Rp 3.9M
$334Rp 6.0M
-35.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
13.17
4.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bali: October 24, 2026
Last update for Batam: October 26, 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
$583 48%
Batam
$145 24.8% ↓ 75.1%$438
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$275 22.7%
Batam
$172 29.3% ↓ 37.6%$103
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105 8.6%
Batam
$94 16.1% ↓ 9.9%$10
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101 8.3%
Batam
$62 10.6% ↓ 38.7%$39
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$90 7.4%
Batam
$75 12.8% ↓ 16.2%$14
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$48 4%
Batam
$32 5.5% ↓ 32.6%$16
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$12 1%
Batam
$5.7 * 1% ↓ 54.4%$6.8
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$1.5K 51.2%
Batam
$499 36.1% ↓ 66.2%$976
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$617 21.4%
Batam
$381 27.6% ↓ 38.3%$236
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$111 3.9%
Batam
$99 7.1% ↓ 11.5%$13
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$224 7.8%
Batam
$138 10% ↓ 38.7%$87
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$316 11%
Batam
$184 13.3% ↓ 41.8%$132
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$111 3.9%
Batam
$70 5.1% ↓ 36.5%$41
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$25 0.9%
Batam
$12 * 0.9% ↓ 52%$13
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Bali versus $265 in Batam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 55% higher in Batam, 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 $8 in Batam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $172 – making Batam 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 Batam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Batam?
Bali costs about 107% more than Batam, 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 Batam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Bali and $880 in Batam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Batam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Batam, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $265 there versus $984 in Bali.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Batam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,214 in Bali and $586 in Batam. That makes Batam about 52% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Bali and in Batam?
Kindergarten costs $437 per month in Bali and $83 in Batam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Batam?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Batam, where all-in costs run around $586, than in Bali at $1,214. In Batam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Batam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.