Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Songkhla

For one person, living is cheaper in Songkhla: $830 a month against $1,236 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,236
/mo nomad
Songkhla
🇹🇭 Thailand
$830
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Songkhla

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

A single person spends $1,236 per month in Bali vs $830 in Songkhla, rent included.

  • Bali $1,236
  • Songkhla $830

A couple spends around $2,086 per month in Bali vs $1,335 in Songkhla, rent included.

  • Bali $2,086
  • Songkhla $1,335

A family of three spends $2,937 per month in Bali vs $1,839 in Songkhla, rent included.

  • Bali $2,937
  • Songkhla $1,839

Bali costs about 49% more than Songkhla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Bali and Songkhla are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Songkhla 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$1.76 ฿58.9
56.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.80 Rp 536.4K
$21.83 ฿730
36.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 Rp 83.3K
$4.68 ฿156
-1.07%
Cappuccino
$2.32 Rp 41.7K
$1.59 ฿53.1
45.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$0.72 ฿24.04
94.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$0.23 ฿7.64
178.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
$1.81 ฿60.4
20.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 Rp 64.5K
$4.71 ฿157
-23.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$1.66 ฿55.5
-10.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
$0.92 ฿30.78
140.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$1.66 ฿55.4
-29.52%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 36.4K
$1.42 ฿47.58
42.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 Rp 297.4K
$16.51 ฿552
0.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.2K
$2.71 ฿90.7
35.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 Rp 210.0K
$10.20 ฿341
14.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 62.0K
$2.98 ฿99.5
15.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
$1.75 ฿58.6
-16.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$2.24 ฿74.7
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 32.8K
$1.26 ฿42.09
44.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
$1.41 ฿47.16
26.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
$1.76 ฿58.9
28.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$1.08 ฿36.02
-8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,186
$0.89 ฿29.80
-42.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 Rp 38.7K
$4.27 ฿143
-49.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.44 Rp 386.0K
$13.49 ฿451
58.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$1.47 ฿49.06
55.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.5K
$4.55 ฿152
-37.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,713
$0.85 ฿28.43
-69.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.97 Rp 143.5K
$59.7 ฿1,994
-86.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,646
$1.24 ฿41.36
-61.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,705
$0.82 ฿27.46
-47.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 101.6K
$4.80 ฿160
17.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
$1.24 ฿41.33
-33.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 426.6M
$25.9K ฿867.1K
-8.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 571.3M
$31.6K ฿1.1M
0.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 Rp 1.5M
$85.8 ฿2,866
-5.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.53 Rp 117.6K
$12.49 ฿417
-47.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 Rp 329.7K
$17.69 ฿591
3.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 Rp 843.4K
$48.41 ฿1,618
-3.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05 Rp 270.8K
$14.10 ฿471
6.74%
Cinema Ticket
$3.69 Rp 66.5K
$6.02 ฿201
-38.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$445 Rp 8.0M
$561 ฿18.7K
-20.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,218 Rp 93.9M
$10.7K ฿356.4K
-51.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.66 Rp 767.8K
$50.6 ฿1,689
-15.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.40 Rp 601.2K
$28.97 ฿968
15.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$77.1 ฿2,577
-2.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7 Rp 1.3M
$75.4 ฿2,518
-2.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 Rp 17.9M
$236 ฿7,880
322.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 Rp 10.7M
$173 ฿5,782
244.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,054 Rp 55.0M
$568 ฿19.0K
437.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 Rp 27.2M
$423 ฿14.1K
257.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 Rp 43.7M
$1,943 ฿64.9K
25.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,963 Rp 35.3M
$1,605 ฿53.7K
22.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Songkhla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$220 Rp 4.0M
$806 ฿26.9K
-72.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.33
47.70%

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

Last update for Bali: October 10, 2026

Last update for Songkhla: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$596
Songkhla
$173 71% $423
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$277
Songkhla
$239 13.7% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$106
Songkhla
$116 9.2% $9.8
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Songkhla
$104 3.2% $3.2
Eating Out
Bali
$90
Songkhla
$69 22.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$54
Songkhla
$60 11.5% $6.2
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Songkhla
$68 488% $57

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $996 in Bali versus $236 in Songkhla. 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 266% higher in Songkhla, 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 $22.00 in Songkhla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $239 – making Songkhla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇹🇭 Songkhla
🕒 Local time
04:00 4:00 AM
03:00 3:00 AM
1 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
61,758
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,238 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Songkhla 2,380 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Songkhla

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 Songkhla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Songkhla?
Bali costs about 49% more than Songkhla, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Songkhla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,854 per month in Bali and $1,245 in Songkhla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Songkhla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Songkhla, 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 Songkhla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali and $22.00 in Songkhla. 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 Songkhla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,236 in Bali and $830 in Songkhla. That's a gap of about 49%.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bali or in Songkhla?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Songkhla, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Bali at $1,236. In Songkhla 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 Songkhla?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Songkhla costs $830 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 Songkhla?
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 Songkhla?
If budget matters most, go with Songkhla. 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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