For one person, living is cheaper in Malang: $464 a month against $1,214 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 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 Malang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,214 per month in Bali vs $464 in Malang, rent included.
Bali $1,214
Malang $464
A couple spends around $2,047 per month in Bali vs $713 in Malang, rent included.
Bali $2,047
Malang $713
A family of three spends $2,880 per month in Bali vs $963 in Malang, rent included.
Bali $2,880
Malang $963
😐
Bali costs about 162% more than Malang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Bali and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Bali11% lower, Malang66% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Malang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73Rp 49.5K
$1.13Rp 20.4K
141.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.91Rp 524.0K
$11.09Rp 201.0K
160.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56Rp 82.6K
$2.80Rp 50.8K
62.86%
Cappuccino
$2.26Rp 41.0K
$1.25Rp 22.7K
80.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43Rp 25.8K
$0.56Rp 10.1K
155.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68Rp 12.4K
$0.21Rp 3,803
223.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23Rp 40.3K
$2.24Rp 40.6K
-0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68Rp 66.8K
$4.17Rp 75.5K
-11.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Malang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49Rp 27.0K
$0.94Rp 17.0K
58.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18Rp 39.6K
$1.07Rp 19.4K
103.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.6K
$0.77Rp 13.9K
48.05%
Eggs
$2.02Rp 36.6K
$1.17Rp 21.2K
72.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.81Rp 304.6K
$5.60Rp 101.6K
200.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57Rp 64.7K
$3.00Rp 54.4K
19.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.31Rp 204.9K
$6.89Rp 124.8K
64.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44Rp 62.4K
$1.98Rp 35.9K
73.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.4K
$1.29Rp 23.4K
17.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.7K
$1.51Rp 27.4K
45.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88Rp 34.1K
$1.39Rp 25.2K
35.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71Rp 31.0K
$1.30Rp 23.5K
31.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32Rp 42.0K
$1.92Rp 34.8K
20.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 18.0K
$0.50Rp 8,981
98.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 9,060
$0.42Rp 7,650
19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03Rp 36.8K
$2.57Rp 46.6K
-21.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.49Rp 389.5K
$12.41Rp 224.9K
73.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14Rp 38.7K
$1.65Rp 29.9K
29.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 52.0K
$2.86Rp 51.9K
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Malang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,559
$0.58Rp 10.6K
-56.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.82Rp 159.9K
$5.39Rp 97.7K
63.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,147
$0.49Rp 8,911
-8.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44Rp 7,969
$0.38Rp 6,862
15.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.48Rp 99.3K
$5.61Rp 101.6K
-2.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$0.73Rp 13.2K
21.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 440.4M
$25.1KRp 454.9M
-3.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KRp 579.0M
$27.4KRp 496.9M
16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Malang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$30.88Rp 559.7K
158.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55Rp 118.7K
$2.30Rp 41.7K
184.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48Rp 335.0K
$19.26Rp 349.1K
-4.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Malang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.66Rp 737.0K
$14.37Rp 260.5K
182.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93Rp 270.5K
$4.58Rp 83.0K
225.98%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67Rp 66.5K
$1.88Rp 34.1K
95.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Malang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437Rp 7.9M
$30.06Rp 544.8K
1354.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,063Rp 91.8M
$9,230Rp 167.3M
-45.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Malang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.62Rp 790.7K
$55.7Rp 1.0M
-21.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.69Rp 592.5K
$22.42Rp 406.3K
45.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6Rp 1.3M
$50.8Rp 921.1K
44.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3Rp 1.3M
$35.21Rp 638.1K
111.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Malang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984Rp 17.8M
$136Rp 2.5M
622.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$583Rp 10.6M
$89.5Rp 1.6M
551.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,121Rp 56.6M
$196Rp 3.5M
1494.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,475Rp 26.7M
$154Rp 2.8M
858.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,447Rp 44.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,963Rp 35.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Malang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$215Rp 3.9M
$201Rp 3.6M
7.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
4
244.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bali: October 24, 2026
Last update for Malang: 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%
Malang
$89 19.3% ↓ 84.6%$493
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$275 22.7%
Malang
$165 35.5% ↓ 40.2%$111
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105 8.6%
Malang
$52 11.3% ↓ 50%$52
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101 8.3%
Malang
$74 15.9% ↓ 26.8%$27
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$90 7.4%
Malang
$55 11.9% ↓ 38.6%$35
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$48 4%
Malang
$18 3.9% ↓ 62.2%$30
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$12 1%
Malang
$10 2.2% ↓ 19.1%$2.4
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$1.5K 51.2%
Malang
$154 16% ↓ 89.6%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$617 21.4%
Malang
$369 38.3% ↓ 40.2%$248
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$111 3.9%
Malang
$55 5.7% ↓ 50.9%$57
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$224 7.8%
Malang
$164 17.1% ↓ 26.8%$60
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$316 11%
Malang
$159 16.5% ↓ 49.7%$157
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$111 3.9%
Malang
$41 4.2% ↓ 63.2%$70
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$25 0.9%
Malang
$21 2.2% ↓ 16.1%$4.1
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Bali versus $136 in Malang. 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 7% higher in Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali versus $11 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $165 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Malang?
Bali costs about 162% more than Malang, 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 Malang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Bali and $695 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Malang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Malang, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $136 there versus $984 in Bali.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Malang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali and $11 in Malang. 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 Malang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,214 in Bali and $464 in Malang. That makes Malang about 62% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Malang?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $464, than in Bali at $1,214. In Malang 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 Malang?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $464 versus $1,214 in Bali. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Malang?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Bali or to Malang?
If budget matters most, go with Malang. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.