Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Palembang Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Palembang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Bali vs $625 in Palembang, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Bali vs $1,389 in Palembang, rent included.

Bali costs about 102% more than Palembang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Palembang are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Palembang 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$1.16 Rp 20.5K

137.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.12 Rp 533.4K

$16.43 Rp 290.9K

83.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 Rp 84.6K

$2.75 Rp 48.6K

73.82%

Cappuccino

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

72.09%

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

$1.54 Rp 27.3K

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 Rp 12.1K

$0.25 Rp 4,340

172.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

46.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 Rp 63.9K

$3.35 Rp 59.4K

7.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

29.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

100.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$0.84 Rp 14.8K

33.33%

Eggs

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

57.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.93 Rp 299.7K

$7.39 Rp 130.8K

129.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 67.7K

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

30.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.86 Rp 210.1K

$7.61 Rp 134.7K

55.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.0K

$2.19 Rp 38.8K

59.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.2K

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

26.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$1.97 Rp 34.9K

12.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 32.7K

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

33.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 Rp 32.2K

$1.40 Rp 24.9K

30.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

6.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

25.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,645

$0.41 Rp 7,239

19.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 Rp 37.6K

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

-4.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.02 Rp 390.0K

$20.38 Rp 360.9K

8.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

23.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.4K

$3.02 Rp 53.5K

-3.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,805

$0.45 Rp 7,968

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.14 Rp 144.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,537

$0.53 Rp 9,459

-9.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,215

$0.31 Rp 5,494

48.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 Rp 100.8K

$2.72 Rp 48.2K

109.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

1.32%

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

$24.4K Rp 431.6M

$22.8K Rp 403.9M

6.85%

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

$31.1K Rp 551.5M

$30.4K Rp 538.9M

2.33%

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

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$67.9 Rp 1.2M

19.67%

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

$6.60 Rp 117.0K

$4.52 Rp 80.1K

46.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.65 Rp 330.2K

$19.12 Rp 338.6K

-2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.53 Rp 841.6K

$19.87 Rp 351.9K

139.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 Rp 270.6K

$7.34 Rp 129.9K

108.17%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 Rp 66.8K

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

36.59%

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

$436 Rp 7.7M

$97.1 Rp 1.7M

349.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,380 Rp 95.3M

$6,938 Rp 122.8M

-22.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.93 Rp 795.6K

$43.91 Rp 777.4K

2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.69 Rp 596.5K

$29.03 Rp 514.0K

16.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

6.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

6.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 Rp 17.7M

$234 Rp 4.2M

326.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 Rp 10.5M

$156 Rp 2.8M

279.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,156 Rp 55.9M

$539 Rp 9.5M

485.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 Rp 27.2M

$422 Rp 7.5M

263.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,456 Rp 43.5M

$1,249 Rp 22.1M

96.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 Rp 35.0M

$739 Rp 13.1M

167.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 Rp 3.9M

$312 Rp 5.5M

-28.44%

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 Palembang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,001 in Bali versus $234 in Palembang. 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 40% higher in Palembang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali versus $16.00 in Palembang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $196 – making Palembang 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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 102% more than Palembang, 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 $1,898 per month in Bali and $938 in Palembang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Bali and $625 in Palembang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Bali and $97.1 in Palembang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Palembang, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Bali at $1,265. In Palembang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Palembang costs $625 versus $1,265 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 Palembang. 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.