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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Bali vs $665 in Padang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,292 per month in Bali vs $1,030 in Padang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,289 per month in Bali vs $1,394 in Padang, rent included.

Bali costs about 95% more than Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Padang are more affordable than the global median – Bali 4% lower, Padang 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 Rp 51.9K
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
83.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.50 Rp 492.7K
$12.45 Rp 223.0K
120.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 Rp 73.1K
$3.30 Rp 59.2K
23.64%
Cappuccino
$2.35 Rp 42.0K
$1.72 Rp 30.8K
36.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
$0.55 Rp 9,766
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 Rp 10.4K
$0.26 Rp 4,628
123.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 Rp 43.0K
$2.42 Rp 43.3K
-0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 Rp 57.3K
$3.52 Rp 63.0K
-9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 Rp 29.7K
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
41.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.13 Rp 20.2K
104.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
29.21%
Eggs
$2.34 Rp 42.0K
$1.55 Rp 27.7K
50.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.86 Rp 248.3K
$7.92 Rp 142.0K
75.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
$3.21 Rp 57.5K
24.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.52 Rp 206.4K
$8.07 Rp 144.6K
42.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.50 Rp 62.6K
$2.32 Rp 41.5K
50.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
0.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 Rp 45.7K
$1.86 Rp 33.2K
37.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.55 Rp 27.7K
44.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.1K
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
34.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.88 Rp 33.7K
17.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
14.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.45 Rp 8,086
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11 Rp 55.8K
$2.51 Rp 45.0K
23.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.97 Rp 393.6K
$17.89 Rp 320.5K
22.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.5K
$2.10 Rp 37.6K
31.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 Rp 48.3K
$3.10 Rp 55.6K
-12.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,779
$0.30 Rp 5,345
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 146.5K
$10.07 Rp 180.4K
-18.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
-17.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,225
$0.37 Rp 6,637
24.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.5K
$2.96 Rp 53.0K
110.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
$0.77 Rp 13.9K
10.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K Rp 463.4M
$24.6K Rp 440.8M
5.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K Rp 584.2M
$27.5K Rp 492.0M
18.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$70.8 Rp 1.3M
12.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rp 71.7K
$4.28 Rp 76.6K
-6.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.97 Rp 429.5K
$22.83 Rp 409.1K
4.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
$23.14 Rp 414.6K
255.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.33 Rp 95.5K
$6.30 Rp 112.9K
-15.40%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32 Rp 59.5K
$3.08 Rp 55.3K
7.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 Rp 4.9M
$93.7 Rp 1.7M
191.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,093 Rp 109.2M
$7,511 Rp 134.6M
-18.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 Rp 922.7K
$42.13 Rp 754.8K
22.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 Rp 645.9K
$31.11 Rp 557.4K
15.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.6 Rp 1.5M
$65.8 Rp 1.2M
25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6 Rp 1.3M
$74.6 Rp 1.3M
-2.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$882 Rp 15.8M
$262 Rp 4.7M
236.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 Rp 10.4M
$159 Rp 2.9M
265.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,917 Rp 52.3M
$590 Rp 10.6M
394.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,819 Rp 32.6M
$333 Rp 6.0M
446.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,419 Rp 43.3M
$1,241 Rp 22.2M
94.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,929 Rp 34.6M
$787 Rp 14.1M
144.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$220 Rp 3.9M
$167 Rp 3.0M
32.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%

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

Last update for Bali: June 7, 2026

Last update for Padang: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $882 in Bali versus $262 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 32% 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 $27.00 in Bali versus $12.00 in Padang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $202 – 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 95% 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 vs Padang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,943 per month in Bali and $998 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 do dining costs compare in Bali vs Padang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bali and $12.00 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 $1,295 in Bali and $665 in Padang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or Padang?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Padang, where all-in costs run around $665, than in Bali at $1,295. 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 $665 versus $1,295 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 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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