Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Thiruvananthapuram

For one person, living is cheaper in Thiruvananthapuram: $386 a month against $1,187 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Thiruvananthapuram, India
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,187
/mo nomad
Thiruvananthapuram
🇮🇳 India
$386
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Thiruvananthapuram

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

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Bali vs $386 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

  • Bali $1,187
  • Thiruvananthapuram $386

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Bali vs $612 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

  • Bali $2,004
  • Thiruvananthapuram $612

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Bali vs $837 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

  • Bali $2,822
  • Thiruvananthapuram $837

Bali costs about 208% more than Thiruvananthapuram, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Thiruvananthapuram are more affordable than the global median – Bali 12% lower, Thiruvananthapuram 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 Rp 50.7K
$2.69 ₹252
4.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85 Rp 522.3K
$10.45 ₹981
176.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 Rp 86.2K
$3.67 ₹344
29.70%
Cappuccino
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$1.88 ₹176
18.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 Rp 23.5K
$0.40 ₹37.32
225.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.2K
$0.15 ₹13.72
273.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$2.10 ₹197
6.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 Rp 64.3K
$2.57 ₹242
38.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
$0.56 ₹52.5
151.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
$0.54 ₹51.0
303.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 Rp 18.9K
$0.61 ₹57.6
72.13%
Eggs
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
$0.90 ₹84.9
113.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 Rp 268.7K
$5.50 ₹517
169.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 69.9K
$2.74 ₹258
40.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 Rp 193.4K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 Rp 60.4K
$2.29 ₹215
45.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$0.83 ₹77.9
75.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$1.16 ₹109
91.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
$0.49 ₹45.57
267.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 31.1K
$0.47 ₹44.35
265.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
$0.50 ₹46.97
346.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 Rp 16.6K
$0.52 ₹48.81
76.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,333
$0.32 ₹30.22
43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 Rp 37.2K
$4.36 ₹409
-52.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.38 Rp 368.9K
$5.17 ₹486
294.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 Rp 39.2K
$1.79 ₹168
20.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 51.6K
$2.98 ₹280
-4.36%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.98 ₹467
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,544
$0.11 ₹10.25
127.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.68 Rp 157.2K
$3.07 ₹288
182.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,980
$2.10 ₹197
-79.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,789
$0.25 ₹23.24
72.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 Rp 97.5K
$2.60 ₹244
106.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$1.16 ₹109
-26.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 429.8M
$11.2K ₹1.1M
111.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K Rp 594.7M
$30.8K ₹2.9M
6.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$35.48 ₹3,331
116.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 114.5K
$3.45 ₹324
83.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 Rp 342.7K
$7.48 ₹702
153.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 Rp 754.0K
$14.03 ₹1,317
196.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 Rp 267.5K
$7.76 ₹728
90.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 Rp 64.8K
$2.06 ₹193
73.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
$38.33 ₹3,599
1039.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K Rp 199.8M
$2,148 ₹201.7K
413.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09 Rp 780.0K
$22.02 ₹2,068
95.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.51 Rp 606.6K
$18.00 ₹1,691
86.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$36.86 ₹3,461
103.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 Rp 1.3M
$27.20 ₹2,554
171.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 Rp 17.3M
$156 ₹14.6K
514.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 Rp 10.3M
$90.3 ₹8,474
531.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 Rp 54.8M
$313 ₹29.3K
868.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 Rp 26.2M
$202 ₹19.0K
614.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 Rp 37.9M
$794 ₹74.6K
163.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,885 Rp 34.1M
$505 ₹47.4K
273.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
$247 ₹23.2K
-12.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.31
33.66%

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

Last update for Bali: October 31, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$570
Thiruvananthapuram
$90 84.2% $480
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$263
Thiruvananthapuram
$104 60.3% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$102
Thiruvananthapuram
$46 54.5% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Thiruvananthapuram
$47 53.8% $55
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Thiruvananthapuram
$73 18.3% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$49
Thiruvananthapuram
$18 62.8% $31
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Thiruvananthapuram
$6.8 44.3% $5.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Bali versus $156 in Thiruvananthapuram. 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 15% higher in Thiruvananthapuram, 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 $10 in Thiruvananthapuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $104 – making Thiruvananthapuram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇮🇳 Thiruvananthapuram
🕒 Local time
01:12 1:12 AM
22:42 10:42 PM
2 h 30 min behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
744,983
💱 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 = 20,331 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 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 = 9.48 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Thiruvananthapuram 4,640 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Thiruvananthapuram

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 Thiruvananthapuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Thiruvananthapuram?
Bali costs about 208% more than Thiruvananthapuram, 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 Thiruvananthapuram?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Bali and $579 in Thiruvananthapuram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Thiruvananthapuram?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Thiruvananthapuram, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $156 there versus $957 in Bali.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Thiruvananthapuram?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali and $10 in Thiruvananthapuram. 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 Thiruvananthapuram?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Bali and $386 in Thiruvananthapuram. That makes Thiruvananthapuram about 67% cheaper.
Can you live on $800/month in Bali or in Thiruvananthapuram?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Thiruvananthapuram, where all-in costs run around $386, than in Bali at $1,187. In Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Thiruvananthapuram costs $386 versus $1,187 in Bali. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Thiruvananthapuram?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Thiruvananthapuram is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 67% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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