For one person, living is cheaper in Padang: $613 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 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 Padang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $613 in Padang, rent included.
Bali $1,187
Padang $613
A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $1,020 in Padang, rent included.
Bali $2,004
Padang $1,020
A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $1,426 in Padang, rent included.
Bali $2,822
Padang $1,426
😐
Bali costs about 94% more than Padang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Bali and Padang are more affordable than the global median – Bali12% lower, Padang55% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80Rp 50.9K
$1.66Rp 30.2K
68.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85Rp 523.8K
$15.67Rp 284.5K
84.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.76Rp 86.5K
$3.26Rp 59.3K
46.01%
Cappuccino
$2.23Rp 40.5K
$1.55Rp 28.2K
43.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$0.48Rp 8,793
170.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 10.2K
$0.24Rp 4,295
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23Rp 40.6K
$2.46Rp 44.7K
-9.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55Rp 64.5K
$3.87Rp 70.2K
-8.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41Rp 25.5K
$1.16Rp 21.1K
21.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18Rp 39.6K
$1.22Rp 22.2K
78.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$0.95Rp 17.2K
10.53%
Eggs
$1.92Rp 34.9K
$1.45Rp 26.3K
32.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.84Rp 269.4K
$7.94Rp 144.2K
86.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.86Rp 70.1K
$2.60Rp 47.2K
48.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.69Rp 194.0K
$8.39Rp 152.4K
27.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34Rp 60.6K
$2.01Rp 36.4K
66.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.5K
$1.25Rp 22.8K
16.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22Rp 40.4K
$1.64Rp 29.8K
35.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.8K
$1.15Rp 20.9K
56.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72Rp 31.2K
$1.22Rp 22.2K
40.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23Rp 40.4K
$2.06Rp 37.4K
8.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.6K
$0.72Rp 13.1K
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,357
$0.40Rp 7,186
15.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06Rp 37.3K
$2.71Rp 49.2K
-23.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.38Rp 369.9K
$17.59Rp 319.3K
15.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16Rp 39.3K
$2.01Rp 36.6K
7.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85Rp 51.7K
$2.78Rp 50.4K
2.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,557
$0.28Rp 5,001
-10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.68Rp 157.7K
$11.91Rp 216.2K
-27.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 8,003
$0.49Rp 8,984
-10.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,812
$0.28Rp 5,167
53.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.38Rp 97.7K
$3.06Rp 55.5K
75.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.4K
$0.87Rp 15.8K
-2.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KRp 431.0M
$22.1KRp 401.7M
7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9KRp 596.4M
$31.4KRp 570.1M
4.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$64.4Rp 1.2M
19.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33Rp 114.9K
$4.68Rp 85.0K
35.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93Rp 343.7K
$21.24Rp 385.6K
-10.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.65Rp 756.2K
$16.59Rp 301.1K
151.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78Rp 268.3K
$7.09Rp 128.7K
108.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58Rp 65.0K
$2.67Rp 48.5K
34.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437Rp 7.9M
$90.6Rp 1.6M
382.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KRp 200.4M
$9,200Rp 167.0M
19.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09Rp 782.3K
$42.90Rp 778.8K
0.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51Rp 608.3K
$31.29Rp 568.1K
7.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0Rp 1.4M
$66.1Rp 1.2M
13.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9Rp 1.3M
$64.4Rp 1.2M
14.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$957Rp 17.4M
$215Rp 3.9M
344.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570Rp 10.3M
$138Rp 2.5M
313.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,028Rp 55.0M
$607Rp 11.0M
398.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446Rp 26.2M
$421Rp 7.6M
243.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,096Rp 38.0M
$1,143Rp 20.7M
83.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,885Rp 34.2M
$690Rp 12.5M
173.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$215Rp 3.9M
$165Rp 3.0M
30.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.45
45.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026
Last update for Padang: November 1, 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
$570 48%
Padang
$138 22.5% ↓ 75.8%$432
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263 22.2%
Padang
$192 31.2% ↓ 27.2%$72
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102 8.6%
Padang
$90 14.7% ↓ 11.4%$12
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101 8.6%
Padang
$92 15% ↓ 9.2%$9.4
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$89 7.5%
Padang
$65 10.5% ↓ 27.6%$25
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49 4.1%
Padang
$22 3.6% ↓ 55.1%$27
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$12 1%
Padang
$15 2.4% ↑ 21.6%$2.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$1.4K 51.2%
Padang
$421 29.5% ↓ 70.9%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$589 20.9%
Padang
$423 29.7% ↓ 28.2%$167
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$108 3.8%
Padang
$95 6.7% ↓ 12.3%$13
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$225 8%
Padang
$205 14.4% ↓ 9.2%$21
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$315 11.2%
Padang
$201 14.1% ↓ 36.2%$114
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$112 4%
Padang
$51 3.6% ↓ 54.7%$61
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$25 0.9%
Padang
$30 2.1% ↑ 21.3%$5.3
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Bali versus $215 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 30% 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 $16 in Padang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $192 – making Padang 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 Padang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Padang?
Bali costs about 94% more than Padang, 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 Padang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $920 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $215 there versus $957 in Bali.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Padang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali and $16 in Padang. 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 Padang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Bali and $613 in Padang. That makes Padang about 48% cheaper.
Can you live on $800/month in Bali or in Padang?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Padang, where all-in costs run around $613, than in Bali at $1,187. In Padang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Padang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Bali or to Padang?
If budget matters most, go with Padang. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.