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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,288 per month in Bali vs $657 in Palembang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,328 per month in Bali vs $1,031 in Palembang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,367 per month in Bali vs $1,404 in Palembang, rent included.

Bali costs about 96% more than Palembang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 Rp 53.0K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

147.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.53 Rp 473.8K

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

50.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

30.25%

Cappuccino

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

60.71%

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

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

17.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.1K

$0.28 Rp 5,004

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

32.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 Rp 58.9K

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

-8.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 Rp 30.8K

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

32.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

108.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.5K

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

-18.44%

Eggs

$2.31 Rp 41.2K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

92.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 Rp 244.6K

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

71.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 Rp 73.8K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

31.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 Rp 202.3K

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

30.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 Rp 61.7K

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

44.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.2K

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 48.2K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 Rp 38.3K

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

44.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

32.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 38.0K

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

10.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 Rp 17.5K

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

1.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 Rp 12.0K

$0.50 Rp 8,973

34.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

29.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.80 Rp 407.1K

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 Rp 47.3K

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 48.6K

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

-13.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,782

$0.47 Rp 8,466

-42.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.46 Rp 151.1K

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

-13.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,160

$0.52 Rp 9,363

-11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,176

$0.37 Rp 6,685

24.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.00 Rp 107.2K

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

102.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

9.33%

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

$26.0K Rp 464.2M

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

7.16%

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

$31.9K Rp 569.1M

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

13.24%

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

$79.7 Rp 1.4M

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

14.21%

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

$3.92 Rp 70.0K

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

-7.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 Rp 434.9K

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

3.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

251.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 Rp 94.6K

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

-11.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 Rp 61.5K

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

13.16%

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

$267 Rp 4.8M

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

189.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,920 Rp 105.7M

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

-21.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 Rp 910.9K

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

21.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.67 Rp 654.8K

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

17.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

24.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 Rp 1.3M

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 Rp 15.3M

$257 Rp 4.6M

232.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 Rp 10.2M

$157 Rp 2.8M

265.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,981 Rp 53.2M

$584 Rp 10.4M

410.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,784 Rp 31.9M

$331 Rp 5.9M

438.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,374 Rp 42.4M

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

76.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,973 Rp 35.2M

$783 Rp 14.0M

151.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 Rp 4.0M

$309 Rp 5.5M

-27.91%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $854 in Bali versus $257 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 39% 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 $27.00 in Bali versus $18.00 in Palembang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $214 – 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 96% 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 $1,932 per month in Bali and $986 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bali and $18.00 in Palembang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,288 in Bali and $657 in Palembang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Palembang, where all-in costs run around $657, than in Bali at $1,288. 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 $657 versus $1,288 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.