Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Padang Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Padang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Bali vs $651 in Padang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Bali vs $1,007 in Padang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Bali vs $1,363 in Padang, rent included.

Bali costs about 94% more than Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Padang are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Padang 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 Rp 48.9K
$1.74 Rp 30.9K
58.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.12 Rp 533.4K
$12.43 Rp 220.0K
142.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 Rp 84.6K
$3.04 Rp 53.7K
57.24%
Cappuccino
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
$1.49 Rp 26.4K
48.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.3K
$0.38 Rp 6,734
305.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 Rp 12.1K
$0.26 Rp 4,533
161.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.54 Rp 45.0K
$2.71 Rp 48.0K
-6.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 Rp 63.9K
$3.93 Rp 69.6K
-8.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 25.8K
$1.17 Rp 20.8K
24.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 Rp 39.1K
$0.95 Rp 16.9K
132.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 Rp 19.8K
$0.92 Rp 16.3K
21.74%
Eggs
$2.03 Rp 35.9K
$1.45 Rp 25.6K
40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.93 Rp 299.7K
$6.29 Rp 111.4K
169.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 67.7K
$2.60 Rp 46.0K
46.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.86 Rp 210.1K
$7.98 Rp 141.3K
48.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.50 Rp 62.0K
$2.02 Rp 35.7K
73.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 26.2K
$1.16 Rp 20.5K
27.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.1K
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
35.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 32.7K
$1.17 Rp 20.7K
58.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 32.2K
$1.35 Rp 23.8K
34.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
$1.93 Rp 34.2K
21.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 Rp 16.7K
$0.83 Rp 14.7K
13.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,645
$0.44 Rp 7,865
11.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12 Rp 37.6K
$2.71 Rp 48.0K
-21.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.02 Rp 390.0K
$23.01 Rp 407.4K
-4.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$2.00 Rp 35.5K
14.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 51.4K
$2.74 Rp 48.5K
6.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,805
$0.30 Rp 5,325
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.14 Rp 144.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,537
$0.51 Rp 9,086
-5.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,215
$0.29 Rp 5,191
58.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 Rp 100.8K
$2.53 Rp 44.8K
124.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
$0.69 Rp 12.1K
11.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 431.6M
$22.8K Rp 404.2M
6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 551.5M
$30.6K Rp 542.5M
1.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 Rp 1.4M
$74.1 Rp 1.3M
9.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.60 Rp 117.0K
$4.30 Rp 76.2K
53.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.65 Rp 330.2K
$17.79 Rp 315.1K
4.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.53 Rp 841.6K
$19.96 Rp 353.4K
138.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.28 Rp 270.6K
$7.45 Rp 132.0K
105.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.77 Rp 66.8K
$2.46 Rp 43.5K
53.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 Rp 7.7M
$99.6 Rp 1.8M
337.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,380 Rp 95.3M
$7,742 Rp 137.1M
-30.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.93 Rp 795.6K
$44.85 Rp 794.2K
0.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.69 Rp 596.5K
$29.67 Rp 525.3K
13.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
$73.7 Rp 1.3M
5.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-4.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 Rp 17.7M
$236 Rp 4.2M
324.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 Rp 10.5M
$140 Rp 2.5M
324.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,156 Rp 55.9M
$513 Rp 9.1M
515.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 Rp 27.2M
$359 Rp 6.4M
327.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,456 Rp 43.5M
$1,358 Rp 24.0M
80.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,976 Rp 35.0M
$634 Rp 11.2M
211.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 3.9M
$170 Rp 3.0M
31.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%

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

Last update for Bali: September 13, 2026

Last update for Padang: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,001 in Bali versus $236 in Padang. 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 31% 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 $30.00 in Bali versus $12.00 in Padang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $194 – making Padang 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 Padang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Padang?
Bali costs about 94% more than Padang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Padang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Bali and $976 in Padang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Padang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Padang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Padang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Bali and $651 in Padang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Bali and in Padang?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Bali and $99.6 in Padang. 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 Padang?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Padang, where all-in costs run around $651, than in Bali at $1,265. In Padang 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 Padang?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Padang costs $651 versus $1,265 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 Padang?
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 Padang?
If budget matters most, go with Padang. 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.

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