Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Malang Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Malang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,275 per month in Bali vs $482 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,093 per month in Bali vs $736 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,912 per month in Bali vs $990 in Malang, rent included.

Bali costs about 165% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Malang 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 Rp 49.0K

$1.10 Rp 19.3K

152.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.58 Rp 538.3K

$11.41 Rp 200.8K

168.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 Rp 83.0K

$2.85 Rp 50.2K

65.26%

Cappuccino

$2.34 Rp 41.1K

$1.35 Rp 23.7K

73.33%

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

$1.52 Rp 26.7K

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

145.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 Rp 11.8K

$0.24 Rp 4,241

179.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 Rp 45.1K

$2.19 Rp 38.6K

16.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 Rp 64.6K

$4.13 Rp 72.8K

-11.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 Rp 26.7K

$0.95 Rp 16.7K

60.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 Rp 37.3K

$1.10 Rp 19.4K

92.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

42.31%

Eggs

$2.02 Rp 35.5K

$1.20 Rp 21.1K

68.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.67 Rp 293.5K

$5.86 Rp 103.1K

184.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 Rp 66.0K

$3.13 Rp 55.2K

19.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 Rp 208.7K

$7.15 Rp 125.9K

65.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 Rp 61.9K

$2.04 Rp 36.0K

72.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.1K

$1.31 Rp 23.1K

17.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 39.6K

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

45.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 33.7K

$1.42 Rp 25.1K

35.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 30.5K

$1.29 Rp 22.6K

34.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 40.5K

$1.94 Rp 34.1K

18.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.7K

$0.51 Rp 9,009

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 Rp 9,046

$0.41 Rp 7,178

24.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 Rp 37.4K

$2.74 Rp 48.3K

-22.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.59 Rp 380.1K

$12.83 Rp 226.0K

68.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 Rp 38.8K

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

25.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 50.3K

$2.89 Rp 50.9K

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,377

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

-58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.22 Rp 144.6K

$5.78 Rp 101.7K

42.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,567

$0.47 Rp 8,220

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 Rp 8,392

$0.41 Rp 7,222

17.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 Rp 97.1K

$5.69 Rp 100.1K

-2.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

28.57%

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

$24.7K Rp 435.2M

$26.0K Rp 457.1M

-4.79%

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

$31.8K Rp 559.5M

$27.6K Rp 486.0M

15.10%

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

$82.8 Rp 1.5M

$31.44 Rp 553.5K

163.20%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.3K

$2.39 Rp 42.2K

171.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.04 Rp 335.1K

$19.73 Rp 347.3K

-3.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.52 Rp 836.6K

$14.60 Rp 257.0K

225.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.14 Rp 266.6K

$4.50 Rp 79.2K

236.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 Rp 66.3K

$2.02 Rp 35.6K

86.63%

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

$446 Rp 7.9M

$31.03 Rp 546.3K

1337.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,332 Rp 93.9M

$9,700 Rp 170.8M

-45.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.63 Rp 785.8K

$56.5 Rp 994.7K

-21.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.69 Rp 593.1K

$22.81 Rp 401.7K

47.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 Rp 1.4M

$53.3 Rp 937.7K

44.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

$36.37 Rp 640.2K

112.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 Rp 17.7M

$142 Rp 2.5M

605.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 Rp 10.7M

$95.0 Rp 1.7M

541.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,095 Rp 54.5M

$196 Rp 3.5M

1477.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 Rp 26.4M

$154 Rp 2.7M

876.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,478 Rp 43.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,968 Rp 34.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$220 Rp 3.9M

$201 Rp 3.5M

9.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

244.50%

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

Last update for Bali: September 7, 2026

Last update for Malang: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Bali versus $142 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 10% 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 $31.00 in Bali versus $11.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $169 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 165% more than Malang, 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 $1,913 per month in Bali and $723 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Bali and $11.00 in Malang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,275 in Bali and $482 in Malang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $482, than in Bali at $1,275. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $482 versus $1,275 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 Malang. 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.