Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Sibolga Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Sibolga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Bali vs $629 in Sibolga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Bali vs $996 in Sibolga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Bali vs $1,363 in Sibolga, rent included.

Bali costs about 101% more than Sibolga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$1.86 Rp 33.0K

48.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.12 Rp 533.4K

$12.51 Rp 221.6K

140.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 Rp 84.6K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

54.69%

Cappuccino

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$1.48 Rp 26.3K

50.00%

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

$1.54 Rp 27.3K

$0.43 Rp 7,596

258.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 Rp 12.1K

$0.22 Rp 3,949

209.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

$2.17 Rp 38.4K

17.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 Rp 63.9K

$3.47 Rp 61.5K

4.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.29 Rp 22.8K

13.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$1.25 Rp 22.2K

76.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$0.78 Rp 13.7K

43.59%

Eggs

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

57.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.93 Rp 299.7K

$7.00 Rp 123.9K

141.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 67.7K

$2.62 Rp 46.4K

45.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.86 Rp 210.1K

$8.03 Rp 142.2K

47.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.0K

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

52.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.2K

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

8.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

16.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 32.7K

$1.45 Rp 25.8K

27.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 Rp 32.2K

$1.47 Rp 26.1K

23.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$1.89 Rp 33.5K

24.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

$0.85 Rp 15.0K

10.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,645

$0.41 Rp 7,250

19.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 Rp 37.6K

$2.93 Rp 51.8K

-27.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.02 Rp 390.0K

$22.84 Rp 404.5K

-3.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

24.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.4K

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

8.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,805

$0.32 Rp 5,678

-15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.14 Rp 144.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,537

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

-15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,215

$0.34 Rp 6,029

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 Rp 100.8K

$2.94 Rp 52.1K

93.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.90 Rp 16.0K

-14.44%

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

$24.4K Rp 431.6M

$21.1K Rp 373.6M

15.54%

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

$31.1K Rp 551.5M

$30.5K Rp 540.2M

2.10%

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

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$70.7 Rp 1.3M

14.91%

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

$6.60 Rp 117.0K

$4.12 Rp 73.0K

60.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.65 Rp 330.2K

$19.28 Rp 341.4K

-3.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.53 Rp 841.6K

$19.00 Rp 336.5K

150.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 Rp 270.6K

$7.31 Rp 129.4K

109.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 Rp 66.8K

$2.54 Rp 44.9K

48.43%

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

$436 Rp 7.7M

$108 Rp 1.9M

305.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,380 Rp 95.3M

$8,988 Rp 159.1M

-40.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.93 Rp 795.6K

$46.17 Rp 817.5K

-2.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.69 Rp 596.5K

$31.95 Rp 565.8K

5.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

$65.6 Rp 1.2M

18.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

$70.6 Rp 1.2M

9.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 Rp 17.7M

$214 Rp 3.8M

366.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 Rp 10.5M

$166 Rp 2.9M

256.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,156 Rp 55.9M

$598 Rp 10.6M

427.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 Rp 27.2M

$326 Rp 5.8M

370.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,456 Rp 43.5M

$1,187 Rp 21.0M

106.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 Rp 35.0M

$769 Rp 13.6M

156.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 Rp 3.9M

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 Sibolga: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,001 in Bali versus $214 in Sibolga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali versus $13.00 in Sibolga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $203 – making Sibolga 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 Sibolga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 101% more than Sibolga, 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 $943 in Sibolga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sibolga, 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 $629 in Sibolga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Bali and $108 in Sibolga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sibolga, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Bali at $1,265. In Sibolga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sibolga costs $629 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 Sibolga. 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.