Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Boroko

For one person, living is cheaper in Boroko: $883 a month against $1,224 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,224
/mo nomad
Boroko
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
$883
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Boroko

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

A single person spends $1,224 per month in Bali vs $883 in Boroko, rent included.

  • Bali $1,224
  • Boroko $883

A couple spends around $2,064 per month in Bali vs $1,279 in Boroko, rent included.

  • Bali $2,064
  • Boroko $1,279

A family of three spends $2,904 per month in Bali vs $1,676 in Boroko, rent included.

  • Bali $2,904
  • Boroko $1,676

Bali costs about 39% more than Boroko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Bali and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Bali 9% lower, Boroko 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 Rp 49.0K
$7.32 PGK 32.06
-62.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.64 Rp 529.8K
$34.97 PGK 153
-15.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 Rp 84.7K
$5.65 PGK 24.75
-16.11%
Cappuccino
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
$2.49 PGK 10.91
-10.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$0.73 PGK 3.22
87.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
$0.68 PGK 2.99
-2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 Rp 39.4K
$2.57 PGK 11.28
-14.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 Rp 64.7K
$3.60 PGK 15.78
0.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
$1.51 PGK 6.60
-4.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 Rp 38.7K
$1.20 PGK 5.27
80.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 Rp 20.0K
$1.22 PGK 5.34
-8.20%
Eggs
$1.97 Rp 35.2K
$3.69 PGK 16.19
-46.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.41 Rp 293.2K
$4.91 PGK 21.53
234.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 Rp 65.0K
$5.74 PGK 25.15
-36.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 Rp 206.2K
$6.51 PGK 28.52
77.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 Rp 60.2K
$3.93 PGK 17.21
-14.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.0K
$3.13 PGK 13.74
-53.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 Rp 38.4K
$2.68 PGK 11.77
-19.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.0K
$2.67 PGK 11.70
-28.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
$2.84 PGK 12.45
-36.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.0K
$0.85 PGK 3.75
163.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 Rp 16.8K
$1.13 PGK 4.94
-16.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,577
$0.43 PGK 1.87
11.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$5.51 PGK 24.17
-61.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.94 Rp 392.2K
$4.87 PGK 21.34
350.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
$1.13 PGK 4.95
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.6K
$1.58 PGK 6.93
75.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Boroko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,661
$0.43 PGK 1.88
-39.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.08 Rp 144.4K
$29.80 PGK 131
-72.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,853
$4.54 PGK 19.88
-90.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,491
$1.36 PGK 5.96
-69.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 101.1K
$11.18 PGK 49.00
-49.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
$0.79 PGK 3.47
13.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 433.4M
$20.6K PGK 90.3K
17.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 563.1M
$17.4K PGK 76.3K
80.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
$62.5 PGK 274
28.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.63 Rp 118.5K
$22.96 PGK 101
-71.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 Rp 327.6K
$90.5 PGK 396
-79.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.56 Rp 814.4K
$42.26 PGK 185
7.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.24 Rp 272.4K
$14.52 PGK 63.6
4.96%
Cinema Ticket
$3.71 Rp 66.4K
$6.56 PGK 28.74
-43.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$442 Rp 7.9M
$328 PGK 1,439
34.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,246 Rp 93.8M
$2,247 PGK 9,849
133.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.18 Rp 789.6K
$32.17 PGK 141
37.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.13 Rp 610.1K
$13.05 PGK 57.2
161.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
$45.08 PGK 198
71.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
$26.83 PGK 118
179.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Boroko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 Rp 17.8M
$3,311 PGK 14.5K
-69.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 Rp 10.5M
$225 PGK 984
162.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,084 Rp 55.1M
$3,352 PGK 14.7K
-7.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 Rp 26.7M
$224 PGK 982
567.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,383 Rp 42.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,015 Rp 36.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Boroko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 4.0M
$356 PGK 1,561
-37.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11
25.27%

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

Last update for Bali: October 4, 2026

Last update for Boroko: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$588
Boroko
$225 61.8% $364
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$274
Boroko
$211 23.2% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105
Boroko
$176 67.5% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$104
Boroko
$53 49.2% $51
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Boroko
$131 47% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$53
Boroko
$55 4.5% $2.4
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Boroko
$43 268% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Bali versus $3,311 in Boroko. 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 60% higher in Boroko, 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 $30.00 in Bali versus $35.00 in Boroko. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Bali vs $211 in Boroko – so Boroko wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇵🇬 Boroko
🕒 Local time
18:24 6:24 PM
20:24 8:24 PM
2 h ahead of Bali
🌤 Weather
Exchange rates and currency converter

PGK, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

Papua New Guinean Kina exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.38 PGK (1 PGK = 0.228 USD). 1 EUR = 4.91 PGK (1 PGK = 0.204 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Boroko 3,510 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Boroko

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 Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Boroko?
Bali costs about 39% more than Boroko, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 Boroko?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,836 per month in Bali and $1,324 in Boroko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Boroko?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Boroko?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali and $35.00 in Boroko. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Boroko?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,224 in Bali and $883 in Boroko. That's a gap of about 39%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Boroko?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boroko, where all-in costs run around $883, than in Bali at $1,224. In Boroko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bali or Boroko?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boroko costs $883 versus $1,224 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Boroko?
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.
Should I move to Bali or to Boroko?
If budget matters most, go with Boroko. 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.

Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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