Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Shillong

For one person, living is cheaper in Shillong: $408 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Shillong, India
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,187
/mo nomad
Shillong
🇮🇳 India
$408
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Shillong

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

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $408 in Shillong, rent included.

  • Bali $1,187
  • Shillong $408

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $642 in Shillong, rent included.

  • Bali $2,004
  • Shillong $642

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $876 in Shillong, rent included.

  • Bali $2,822
  • Shillong $876

Bali costs about 191% more than Shillong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Shillong are more affordable than the global median – Bali 12% lower, Shillong 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 Rp 50.7K
$3.52 ₹331
-20.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85 Rp 522.3K
$11.40 ₹1,070
153.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 Rp 86.2K
$4.67 ₹439
1.93%
Cappuccino
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$1.62 ₹152
37.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 Rp 23.5K
$0.40 ₹37.75
225.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.2K
$0.14 ₹13.50
300.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.25 ₹117
78.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 Rp 64.3K
$3.38 ₹317
5.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
$0.68 ₹63.9
107.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
$0.34 ₹32.34
541.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 Rp 18.9K
$0.56 ₹52.8
87.50%
Eggs
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
$0.99 ₹92.9
93.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 Rp 268.7K
$3.89 ₹365
281.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 69.9K
$2.51 ₹236
53.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 Rp 193.4K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 Rp 60.4K
$2.19 ₹205
52.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$0.73 ₹68.1
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$0.96 ₹90.0
131.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
$0.56 ₹52.5
221.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 31.1K
$0.33 ₹31.29
421.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
$0.38 ₹35.39
486.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 Rp 16.6K
$0.22 ₹20.66
318.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,333
$0.27 ₹25.37
70.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 Rp 37.2K
$4.99 ₹468
-58.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.38 Rp 368.9K
$4.77 ₹448
327.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 Rp 39.2K
$1.28 ₹120
68.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 51.6K
$1.92 ₹180
48.44%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.00 ₹470
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Shillong
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
$0.68 ₹64.2
-35.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,789
$0.28 ₹26.29
53.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 Rp 97.5K
$1.35 ₹127
298.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$1.06 ₹99.1
-19.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 429.8M
$11.1K ₹1.0M
112.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K Rp 594.7M
$16.9K ₹1.6M
94.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$34.66 ₹3,255
121.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 114.5K
$3.19 ₹300
98.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 Rp 342.7K
$6.19 ₹581
205.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 Rp 754.0K
$10.40 ₹976
300.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 Rp 267.5K
$5.40 ₹507
173.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 Rp 64.8K
$3.14 ₹295
14.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
$27.75 ₹2,606
1474.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K Rp 199.8M
$1,166 ₹109.4K
847.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09 Rp 780.0K
$16.07 ₹1,509
168.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51 Rp 606.6K
$21.77 ₹2,044
53.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$36.91 ₹3,466
103.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 Rp 1.3M
$26.95 ₹2,530
174.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Shillong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 Rp 17.3M
$212 ₹19.9K
352.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 Rp 10.3M
$134 ₹12.6K
325.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 Rp 54.8M
$733 ₹68.9K
312.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 Rp 26.2M
$278 ₹26.1K
419.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 Rp 37.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,885 Rp 34.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Shillong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
$452 ₹42.4K
-52.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
7.26
89.81%

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

Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026

Last update for Shillong: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$570
Shillong
$134 76.5% $436
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263
Shillong
$88 66.4% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102
Shillong
$44 56.8% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Shillong
$46 54.9% $56
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Shillong
$77 13.9% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49
Shillong
$17 65.8% $32
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Shillong
$2.1 * 83.1% $10

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Bali versus $212 in Shillong. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Shillong are about 2.1 times higher, 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 $29 in Bali versus $11 in Shillong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $88 – making Shillong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇮🇳 Shillong
🕒 Local time
05:26 5:26 AM
02:56 2:56 AM
2 h 30 min behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
143,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,103 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,231 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 93.9 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 105 INR (1,000 INR = 9.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Shillong 4,550 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Shillong

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 Shillong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Shillong?
Bali costs about 191% more than Shillong, 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 Shillong?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $612 in Shillong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Shillong?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shillong, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $212 there versus $957 in Bali.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Shillong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Bali and $408 in Shillong. That makes Shillong about 66% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Bali and in Shillong?
Kindergarten costs $437 per month in Bali and $28 in Shillong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Bali or in Shillong?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Shillong, where all-in costs run around $408, than in Bali at $1,187. In Shillong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Shillong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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