Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Yala

For one person, living is cheaper in Yala: $895 a month against $1,229 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,229
/mo nomad
Yala
🇹🇭 Thailand
$895
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Yala

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

A single person spends $1,229 per month in Bali vs $895 in Yala, rent included.

  • Bali $1,229
  • Yala $895

A couple spends around $2,053 per month in Bali vs $1,487 in Yala, rent included.

  • Bali $2,053
  • Yala $1,487

A family of three spends $2,877 per month in Bali vs $2,079 in Yala, rent included.

  • Bali $2,877
  • Yala $2,079

Bali costs about 37% more than Yala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Yala are more affordable than the global median – Bali 9% lower, Yala 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Yala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 Rp 49.5K
$1.51 ฿50.3
82.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.09 Rp 523.7K
$24.70 ฿825
17.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 Rp 83.9K
$6.73 ฿225
-30.76%
Cappuccino
$2.31 Rp 41.5K
$1.92 ฿64.0
20.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 Rp 25.6K
$0.56 ฿18.76
153.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
$0.16 ฿5.42
300.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$1.90 ฿63.4
17.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 Rp 64.9K
$3.30 ฿110
9.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Yala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 Rp 25.8K
$1.54 ฿51.3
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 Rp 38.0K
$1.22 ฿40.90
72.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$1.33 ฿44.51
-13.53%
Eggs
$1.96 Rp 35.3K
$1.79 ฿59.7
9.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.38 Rp 294.8K
$18.29 ฿611
-10.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.7K
$2.96 ฿98.8
21.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.70 Rp 210.6K
$9.26 ฿309
26.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 Rp 62.7K
$3.02 ฿101
15.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.14 ฿37.97
28.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
$2.09 ฿69.7
5.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.3K
$1.95 ฿65.3
-2.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 30.9K
$1.57 ฿52.3
9.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
$0.97 ฿32.44
125.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 17.9K
$1.17 ฿39.17
-14.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,256
$0.53 ฿17.62
-3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 Rp 37.4K
$4.87 ฿163
-57.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.20 Rp 381.6K
$16.33 ฿546
29.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
$1.64 ฿54.8
32.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 51.9K
$2.58 ฿86.2
11.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Yala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,137
$0.61 ฿20.44
-62.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.27 Rp 148.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,030
$1.12 ฿37.42
-59.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,471
$1.31 ฿43.70
-64.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 Rp 97.6K
$6.43 ฿215
-15.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.42 ฿47.43
-41.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K Rp 431.7M
$26.5K ฿887.0K
-9.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 573.5M
$26.5K ฿887.1K
20.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Yala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$85.4 ฿2,853
-6.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 116.3K
$11.99 ฿401
-46.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 Rp 336.4K
$19.46 ฿650
-3.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Yala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.96 Rp 827.2K
$44.07 ฿1,473
4.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.87 Rp 267.7K
$13.69 ฿458
8.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67 Rp 66.1K
$6.63 ฿222
-44.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Yala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 Rp 8.0M
$589 ฿19.7K
-24.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,164 Rp 93.0M
$11.3K ฿376.2K
-54.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Yala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.58 Rp 784.5K
$45.88 ฿1,533
-5.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.98 Rp 593.7K
$32.27 ฿1,079
2.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
$77.6 ฿2,592
-3.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
$80.9 ฿2,704
-7.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Yala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$975 Rp 17.5M
$475 ฿15.9K
105.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 Rp 10.7M
$289 ฿9,662
105.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,065 Rp 55.2M
$1,169 ฿39.1K
162.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,463 Rp 26.3M
$759 ฿25.4K
92.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 Rp 43.0M
$1,762 ฿58.9K
35.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,945 Rp 35.0M
$1,405 ฿46.9K
38.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Yala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 Rp 3.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.57
147.40%

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

Last update for Bali: October 20, 2026

Last update for Yala: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$593
Yala
$289 51.3% $304
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$273
Yala
$241 11.8% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105
Yala
$117 11.7% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$102
Yala
$106 4.5% $4.5
Eating Out
Bali
$90
Yala
$74 17.8% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$53
Yala
$57 7.6% $4
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Yala
$10 * 15.7% $1.9

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $975 in Bali versus $475 in Yala. 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 $29.00 in Bali versus $25.00 in Yala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $241 – making Yala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇹🇭 Yala
🕒 Local time
08:06 8:06 AM
07:06 7:06 AM
1 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,617
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

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

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 Yala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Yala?
Bali costs about 37% more than Yala, 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 Yala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,843 per month in Bali and $1,343 in Yala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Yala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yala, 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 Yala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,229 in Bali and $895 in Yala. That's a gap of about 37%.
How do childcare costs compare in Bali and in Yala?
Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Bali and $589 in Yala. 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 Yala?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yala, where all-in costs run around $895, than in Bali at $1,229. In Yala 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 Yala?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yala costs $895 versus $1,229 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 Yala?
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 Yala?
If budget matters most, go with Yala. 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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