Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Punakha

For one person, living is cheaper in Punakha: $133 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Punakha, Bhutan
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,187
/mo nomad
Punakha
🇧🇹 Bhutan
$133
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Punakha

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 Punakha actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $133 in Punakha, rent included.

  • Bali $1,187
  • Punakha $133

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $181 in Punakha, rent included.

  • Bali $2,004
  • Punakha $181

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $229 in Punakha, rent included.

  • Bali $2,822
  • Punakha $229

Bali costs about 792% more than Punakha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Bali and Punakha are more affordable than the global median – Bali 12% lower, Punakha 90% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 Rp 50.7K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85 Rp 522.3K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 Rp 86.2K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 Rp 23.5K
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 Rp 64.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 Rp 18.9K
-
-
Eggs
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 Rp 268.7K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 69.9K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 Rp 193.4K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 Rp 60.4K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 31.1K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 Rp 16.6K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,333
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 Rp 37.2K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$20.38 Rp 368.9K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 Rp 39.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 51.6K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Punakha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,544
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.68 Rp 157.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,980
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,789
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 Rp 97.5K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 429.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K Rp 594.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 114.5K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 Rp 342.7K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 Rp 754.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 Rp 267.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 Rp 64.8K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K Rp 199.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09 Rp 780.0K
$21.40 BTN 2,015
101.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51 Rp 606.6K
$10.34 BTN 973
224.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$41.77 BTN 3,932
79.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 Rp 1.3M
$36.27 BTN 3,414
103.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Punakha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 Rp 17.3M
$93.8 BTN 8,832
920.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 Rp 10.3M
$83.6 BTN 7,872
581.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 Rp 54.8M
$138 BTN 13.0K
2098.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 Rp 26.2M
$119 BTN 11.2K
1115.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 Rp 37.9M
$3,198 BTN 301.1K
-34.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,885 Rp 34.1M
$2,984 BTN 280.9K
-36.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Punakha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
$237 BTN 22.3K
-9.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026

Last update for Punakha: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$570
Punakha
–
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263
Punakha
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102
Punakha
–
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Punakha
–
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Punakha
–
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49
Punakha
–
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Punakha
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Bali versus $94 in Punakha. 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 10% higher in Punakha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇧🇹 Punakha
🕒 Local time
01:31 1:31 AM
23:31 11:31 PM
2 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BTN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 18,103 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,173 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.96 EUR).

Bhutanese Ngultrum exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 94.14 BTN (100 BTN = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 105 BTN (1,000 BTN = 9.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Punakha 4,850 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Punakha

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 Punakha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Punakha?
Bali costs about 792% more than Punakha, 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 Punakha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $200 in Punakha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Punakha?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Punakha, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $94 there versus $957 in Bali.
Can you live on $800/month in Bali or in Punakha?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Punakha, where all-in costs run around $133, than in Bali at $1,187. In Punakha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bali or Punakha?
It depends on your priorities. Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $133 in Punakha to $1,187 in Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Bali compared to Punakha?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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