Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Sari

For one person, living is cheaper in Sari: $885 a month against $1,236 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,236
/mo nomad
Sari
🇮🇷 Iran
$885
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Sari

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

A single person spends $1,236 per month in Bali vs $885 in Sari, rent included.

  • Bali $1,236
  • Sari $885

A couple spends around $2,086 per month in Bali vs $1,092 in Sari, rent included.

  • Bali $2,086
  • Sari $1,092

A family of three spends $2,937 per month in Bali vs $1,299 in Sari, rent included.

  • Bali $2,937
  • Sari $1,299

Bali costs about 40% more than Sari, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Sari are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Sari 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Sari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$3.83 $3.83
-27.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.80 Rp 536.4K
$11.96 $11.96
149.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 Rp 83.3K
$3.90 $3.90
18.72%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.73 $0.73
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.85 $0.85
-
Cappuccino
$2.32 Rp 41.7K
$1.29 $1.29
79.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$0.48 $0.48
191.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$0.56 $0.56
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 Rp 64.5K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Sari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$0.48 $0.48
210.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
$0.61 $0.61
262.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$3.30 $3.30
-64.55%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 36.4K
$1.23 $1.23
64.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 Rp 297.4K
$4.55 $4.55
263.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.2K
$3.39 $3.39
8.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 Rp 210.0K
$9.16 $9.16
27.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 62.0K
$1.34 $1.34
156.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
$1.88 $1.88
-22.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.19 $1.19
88.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 32.8K
$0.64 $0.64
184.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
$0.54 $0.54
231.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
$0.51 $0.51
345.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$0.54 $0.54
83.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,186
$0.28 $0.28
82.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.78 $0.78
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51 $0.51
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.16 $2.16
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 Rp 38.7K
$2.44 $2.44
-11.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.44 Rp 386.0K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.5K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Sari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,713
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.97 Rp 143.5K
$9.88 $9.88
-19.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,646
$0.51 $0.51
-5.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,705
$0.31 $0.31
38.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 101.6K
$3.08 $3.08
83.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
$0.08 $0.08
925.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 426.6M
$50.9K $50.9K
-53.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 571.3M
$44.8K $44.8K
-29.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Sari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 Rp 1.5M
$12.89 $12.89
530.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.53 Rp 117.6K
$1.64 $1.64
298.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 Rp 329.7K
$3.78 $3.78
384.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Sari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 Rp 843.4K
$50.8 $50.8
-7.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05 Rp 270.8K
$12.17 $12.17
23.66%
Cinema Ticket
$3.69 Rp 66.5K
$0.97 $0.97
280.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Sari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$445 Rp 8.0M
$50.8 $50.8
775.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,218 Rp 93.9M
$805 $805
547.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Sari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.66 Rp 767.8K
$26.52 $26.52
60.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.40 Rp 601.2K
$38.07 $38.07
-12.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$116 $116
-35.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7 Rp 1.3M
$74.6 $74.6
-1.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Sari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 Rp 17.9M
$799 $799
24.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 Rp 10.7M
$504 $504
18.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,054 Rp 55.0M
$688 $688
343.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 Rp 27.2M
$404 $404
273.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 Rp 43.7M
$849 $849
186.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,963 Rp 35.3M
$516 $516
280.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Sari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$220 Rp 4.0M
$248 $248
-11.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
24.79
-44.41%

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

Last update for Bali: October 10, 2026

Last update for Sari: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$596
Sari
$504 15.4% $92
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$277
Sari
$121 56.2% $156
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$106
Sari
$18 82.8% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Sari
$115 13.3% $13
Eating Out
Bali
$90
Sari
$62 31.2% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$54
Sari
$53 2.8% $1.5
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Sari
$12 * 2.7% $0.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $996 in Bali versus $799 in Sari. 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 13% higher in Sari, 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 $12.00 in Sari. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $121 – making Sari the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇮🇷 Sari
🕒 Local time
12:08 12:08 PM
07:38 7:38 AM
4 h 30 min behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
300,000
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Sari 8,180 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Sari

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 Sari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Sari?
Bali costs about 40% more than Sari, 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 Sari?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,854 per month in Bali and $1,327 in Sari. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Sari?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sari, 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 and in Sari?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali and $12.00 in Sari. 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 Sari?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,236 in Bali and $885 in Sari. That's a gap of about 40%.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bali or in Sari?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sari, where all-in costs run around $885, than in Bali at $1,236. In Sari 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 Sari?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sari costs $885 versus $1,236 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 Sari?
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 to Sari?
If budget matters most, go with Sari. 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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