Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Bali: $1,224 a month against $2,852 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,224
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,852
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Melbourne

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

A single person spends $1,224 per month in Bali vs $2,852 in Melbourne, rent included.

  • Bali $1,224
  • Melbourne $2,852

A couple spends around $2,064 per month in Bali vs $4,297 in Melbourne, rent included.

  • Bali $2,064
  • Melbourne $4,297

A family of three spends $2,904 per month in Bali vs $5,742 in Melbourne, rent included.

  • Bali $2,904
  • Melbourne $5,742

Bali is about 57% cheaper than Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Bali sits 9% below the global median, while Melbourne is 113% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
$17.75 A$25.49
-84.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.64 Rp 530.3K
$84.8 A$122
-65.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 Rp 84.7K
$12.16 A$17.46
-61.02%
Cappuccino
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
$3.93 A$5.64
-43.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$3.14 A$4.51
-56.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
$2.43 A$3.49
-72.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 Rp 39.5K
$9.90 A$14.22
-77.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 Rp 64.8K
$8.29 A$11.91
-56.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
$1.55 A$2.22
-7.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 Rp 38.7K
$3.01 A$4.32
-27.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 Rp 20.0K
$2.88 A$4.14
-61.11%
Eggs
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$5.44 A$7.82
-63.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.41 Rp 293.5K
$10.59 A$15.22
54.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 Rp 65.0K
$9.61 A$13.81
-62.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 Rp 206.4K
$14.99 A$21.54
-23.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 Rp 60.2K
$4.15 A$5.96
-18.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.0K
$3.05 A$4.38
-52.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 Rp 38.5K
$3.30 A$4.74
-34.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.0K
$4.76 A$6.83
-60.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
$3.04 A$4.36
-40.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
$2.55 A$3.66
-12.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 Rp 16.8K
$2.48 A$3.56
-62.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,585
$1.63 A$2.34
-70.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$44.07 A$63.3
-95.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.94 Rp 392.5K
$12.43 A$17.85
76.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
$5.33 A$7.65
-57.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.6K
$5.16 A$7.41
-46.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,664
$3.84 A$5.52
-93.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.08 Rp 144.5K
$142 A$203
-94.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,859
$4.40 A$6.32
-90.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,497
$1.40 A$2.01
-70.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 101.2K
$29.83 A$42.84
-81.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
$1.46 A$2.09
-38.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 433.8M
$28.1K A$40.4K
-13.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 563.6M
$25.9K A$37.3K
21.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
$233 A$334
-65.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.63 Rp 118.6K
$27.28 A$39.19
-75.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 Rp 327.9K
$57.0 A$81.9
-67.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.56 Rp 815.1K
$52.7 A$75.7
-13.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.24 Rp 272.7K
$22.62 A$32.49
-32.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.71 Rp 66.4K
$17.10 A$24.57
-78.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$442 Rp 7.9M
$2,373 A$3,409
-81.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,246 Rp 93.8M
$30.5K A$43.8K
-82.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.18 Rp 790.3K
$78.2 A$112
-43.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.13 Rp 610.6K
$50.5 A$72.5
-32.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
$121 A$173
-35.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
$133 A$191
-43.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 Rp 17.8M
$1,713 A$2,460
-41.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 Rp 10.5M
$1,402 A$2,014
-58.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,084 Rp 55.2M
$3,339 A$4,796
-7.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 Rp 26.8M
$2,529 A$3,632
-40.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,383 Rp 42.6M
$7,018 A$10.1K
-66.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,015 Rp 36.1M
$6,767 A$9,721
-70.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 4.0M
$4,228 A$6,074
-94.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.9
133.56%

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

Last update for Bali: October 4, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$588
Melbourne
$1.4K 138% $813
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$274
Melbourne
$385 40.5% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105
Melbourne
$317 202% $212
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$104
Melbourne
$172 65.9% $68
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Melbourne
$314 252% $225
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$53
Melbourne
$87 64% $34
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Melbourne
$168 1345% $157

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Bali versus $1,713 in Melbourne. 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 1796% higher in Melbourne, 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 $30.00 in Bali versus $85.0 in Melbourne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $385 – making Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
13:06 1:06 PM
16:06 4:06 PM
3 h ahead of Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,890 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,065 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.696 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.621 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Melbourne 4,420 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Melbourne

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 Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Melbourne?
Melbourne costs about 133% more than Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Melbourne?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,836 per month in Bali and $4,277 in Melbourne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Melbourne?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bali, 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 Melbourne?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali and $85.0 in Melbourne. 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 Melbourne?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,224 in Bali and $2,852 in Melbourne. That's a gap of about 133%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Melbourne?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,224, than in Melbourne at $2,852. In Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bali or Melbourne?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bali costs $1,224 versus $2,852 in Melbourne. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Melbourne?
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 Melbourne?
If budget matters most, go with Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Melbourne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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