Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Vung Tau

For one person, living is cheaper in Vung Tau: $608 a month against $1,236 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,236
/mo nomad
Vung Tau
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Vung Tau

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

A single person spends $1,236 per month in Bali vs $608 in Vung Tau, rent included.

  • Bali $1,236
  • Vung Tau $608

A couple spends around $2,086 per month in Bali vs $1,015 in Vung Tau, rent included.

  • Bali $2,086
  • Vung Tau $1,015

A family of three spends $2,937 per month in Bali vs $1,423 in Vung Tau, rent included.

  • Bali $2,937
  • Vung Tau $1,423

Bali costs about 103% more than Vung Tau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Vung Tau are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Vung Tau 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$1.95 ₫50.5K
41.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.80 Rp 536.4K
$15.66 ₫405.5K
90.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 Rp 83.3K
$3.75 ₫97.0K
23.47%
Cappuccino
$2.32 Rp 41.7K
$1.84 ₫47.6K
26.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$0.41 ₫10.6K
241.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$0.33 ₫8,662
93.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
$0.78 ₫20.2K
180.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 Rp 64.5K
$1.01 ₫26.3K
254.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$1.40 ₫36.3K
6.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
$1.11 ₫28.7K
99.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$0.89 ₫23.1K
31.46%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 36.4K
$1.65 ₫42.8K
22.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 Rp 297.4K
$4.79 ₫124.0K
244.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.2K
$3.60 ₫93.1K
2.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 Rp 210.0K
$9.44 ₫244.4K
23.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 62.0K
$3.06 ₫79.3K
12.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
$1.24 ₫32.1K
17.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$0.63 ₫16.3K
255.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 32.8K
$1.29 ₫33.5K
41.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
$1.15 ₫29.8K
55.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
$1.19 ₫30.8K
90.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$0.60 ₫15.7K
65.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,186
$0.43 ₫11.0K
18.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 Rp 38.7K
$1.20 ₫31.1K
79.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.44 Rp 386.0K
$12.74 ₫329.7K
68.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$0.81 ₫21.1K
182.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.5K
$1.01 ₫26.2K
183.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,713
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.97 Rp 143.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,646
$0.70 ₫18.1K
-31.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,705
$0.59 ₫15.3K
-27.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 101.6K
$1.15 ₫29.7K
390.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
$0.80 ₫20.7K
2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 426.6M
$30.2K ₫782.2M
-21.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 571.3M
$31.4K ₫811.9M
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 Rp 1.5M
$46.69 ₫1.2M
74.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.53 Rp 117.6K
$5.90 ₫152.7K
10.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 Rp 329.7K
$7.99 ₫206.9K
129.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 Rp 843.4K
$17.04 ₫441.1K
174.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05 Rp 270.8K
$9.41 ₫243.6K
59.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.69 Rp 66.5K
$3.54 ₫91.6K
4.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$445 Rp 8.0M
$117 ₫3.0M
281.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,218 Rp 93.9M
$9,586 ₫248.2M
-45.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.66 Rp 767.8K
$21.13 ₫547.1K
101.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.40 Rp 601.2K
$18.89 ₫489.1K
76.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$92.2 ₫2.4M
-18.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7 Rp 1.3M
$67.9 ₫1.8M
8.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 Rp 17.9M
$304 ₫7.9M
227.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 Rp 10.7M
$199 ₫5.2M
199.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,054 Rp 55.0M
$752 ₫19.5M
306.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 Rp 27.2M
$504 ₫13.0M
199.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 Rp 43.7M
$7,301 ₫189.0M
-66.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,963 Rp 35.3M
$4,367 ₫113.1M
-55.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Vung Tau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$220 Rp 4.0M
$572 ₫14.8M
-61.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8.64
59.49%

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

Last update for Bali: October 10, 2026

Last update for Vung Tau: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$596
Vung Tau
$199 66.6% $397
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$277
Vung Tau
$173 37.6% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$106
Vung Tau
$61 42.9% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Vung Tau
$90 11% $11
Eating Out
Bali
$90
Vung Tau
$58 35.8% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$54
Vung Tau
$24 55.5% $30
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Vung Tau
$3.7 * 68.6% $8

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 $304 in Vung Tau. 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 159% higher in Vung Tau, 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 $16.00 in Vung Tau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $173 – making Vung Tau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇻🇳 Vung Tau
🕒 Local time
21:54 9:54 PM
20:54 8:54 PM
1 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
380,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, 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).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,108 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Vung Tau 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Vung Tau

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 Vung Tau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Vung Tau?
Bali costs about 103% more than Vung Tau, 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 Vung Tau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,854 per month in Bali and $912 in Vung Tau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Vung Tau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vung Tau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Vung Tau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,236 in Bali and $608 in Vung Tau. That's a gap of about 103%.
How do childcare costs compare in Bali and in Vung Tau?
Kindergarten costs $445 per month in Bali and $117 in Vung Tau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Vung Tau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vung Tau, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Bali at $1,236. In Vung Tau 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 Vung Tau?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vung Tau costs $608 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 Vung Tau?
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 Vung Tau?
If budget matters most, go with Vung Tau. 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.

Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?