For one person, living is cheaper in Batam: $586 a month against $1,214 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Batam and in Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $586 per month in Batam vs $1,214 in Bali, rent included.
Batam $586
Bali $1,214
A couple spends around $984 per month in Batam vs $2,047 in Bali, rent included.
Batam $984
Bali $2,047
A family of three spends $1,382 per month in Batam vs $2,880 in Bali, rent included.
Batam $1,382
Bali $2,880
🙂
Batam is about 52% cheaper than Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Batam and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Batam57% lower, Bali11% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95Rp 35.3K
$2.73Rp 49.5K
-28.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.07Rp 146.3K
$28.91Rp 523.9K
-72.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.90Rp 70.7K
$4.56Rp 82.6K
-14.47%
Cappuccino
$2.05Rp 37.1K
$2.26Rp 41.0K
-9.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61Rp 11.0K
$1.43Rp 25.8K
-57.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30Rp 5,449
$0.68Rp 12.4K
-55.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Rp 44.7K
$2.23Rp 40.3K
10.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66Rp 66.4K
$3.68Rp 66.7K
-0.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 20.3K
$1.49Rp 27.0K
-24.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09Rp 19.8K
$2.18Rp 39.6K
-50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81Rp 14.7K
$1.14Rp 20.6K
-28.95%
Eggs
$1.22Rp 22.1K
$2.02Rp 36.6K
-39.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.45Rp 135.0K
$16.81Rp 304.5K
-55.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.47Rp 44.8K
$3.57Rp 64.7K
-30.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.31Rp 78.1K
$11.31Rp 204.9K
-61.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17Rp 39.2K
$3.44Rp 62.4K
-36.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00Rp 36.2K
$1.51Rp 27.4K
32.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.8K
$2.19Rp 39.7K
-10.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.7K
$1.88Rp 34.1K
-45.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.2K
$1.71Rp 31.0K
-44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96Rp 35.5K
$2.32Rp 42.0K
-15.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29Rp 23.4K
$0.99Rp 18.0K
30.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 8,036
$0.50Rp 9,057
-12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72Rp 49.3K
$2.03Rp 36.8K
33.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.78Rp 249.8K
$21.49Rp 389.4K
-35.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68Rp 30.4K
$2.14Rp 38.7K
-21.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33Rp 42.3K
$2.87Rp 52.0K
-18.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41Rp 7,419
$0.25Rp 4,557
64.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.82Rp 159.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13Rp 20.5K
$0.45Rp 8,145
151.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58Rp 10.6K
$0.44Rp 7,967
31.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.42Rp 62.0K
$5.48Rp 99.3K
-37.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 15.2K
$0.89Rp 16.0K
-5.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KRp 499.6M
$24.3KRp 440.3M
13.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KRp 445.8M
$31.9KRp 578.8M
-22.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.8Rp 1.2M
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-15.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 74.2K
$6.55Rp 118.7K
-37.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.58Rp 409.2K
$18.48Rp 334.9K
22.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.03Rp 489.9K
$40.66Rp 736.7K
-33.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.66Rp 102.5K
$14.93Rp 270.5K
-62.09%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66Rp 48.3K
$3.67Rp 66.4K
-27.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$437Rp 7.9M
-81.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,186Rp 57.7M
$5,063Rp 91.7M
-37.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.46Rp 570.0K
$43.62Rp 790.4K
-27.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.99Rp 326.0K
$32.69Rp 592.4K
-44.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.4Rp 1.2M
$73.6Rp 1.3M
-12.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.72Rp 429.9K
$74.3Rp 1.3M
-68.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$265Rp 4.8M
$984Rp 17.8M
-73.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145Rp 2.6M
$583Rp 10.6M
-75.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$796Rp 14.4M
$3,121Rp 56.5M
-74.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499Rp 9.0M
$1,475Rp 26.7M
-66.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$542Rp 9.8M
$2,447Rp 44.3M
-77.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,963Rp 35.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$334Rp 6.0M
$215Rp 3.9M
55.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.17
13.78
-4.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Batam: October 26, 2026
Last update for Bali: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Batam
$172 29.3%
Bali
$275 22.7% ↑ 60.3%$103
🏠Accommodation & Living
Batam
$145 24.8%
Bali
$583 48% ↑ 302%$438
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
$94 16.1%
Bali
$105 8.6% ↑ 11%$10
🍽Eating Out
Batam
$75 12.8%
Bali
$90 7.4% ↑ 19.3%$14
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Batam
$62 10.6%
Bali
$101 8.3% ↑ 63%$39
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Batam
$32 5.5%
Bali
$48 4% ↑ 48.3%$16
🚌Getting Around
Batam
$5.7 * 1%
Bali
$12 1% ↑ 119%$6.8
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Batam
$381 27.6%
Bali
$617 21.4% ↑ 61.9%$236
🏠Accommodation & Living
Batam
$499 36.1%
Bali
$1.5K 51.2% ↑ 196%$976
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
$99 7.1%
Bali
$111 3.9% ↑ 13%$13
🍽Eating Out
Batam
$184 13.3%
Bali
$316 11% ↑ 71.9%$132
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Batam
$138 10%
Bali
$224 7.8% ↑ 63.1%$87
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Batam
$70 5.1%
Bali
$111 3.9% ↑ 57.6%$41
🚌Getting Around
Batam
$12 * 0.9%
Bali
$25 0.9% ↑ 109%$13
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $265 in Batam versus $984 in Bali. 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 55% higher in Batam, 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 $8 in Batam versus $29 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $275 – making Batam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Batam vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Batam or Bali?
Bali costs about 107% more than Batam, 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 Batam and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $880 per month in Batam and $1,821 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Batam or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Batam, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $265 there versus $984 in Bali.
How much does it cost to live in Batam compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $586 in Batam and $1,214 in Bali. That makes Batam about 52% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Batam and in Bali?
Kindergarten costs $83 per month in Batam and $437 in Bali. 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 Batam or in Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Batam, where all-in costs run around $586, than in Bali at $1,214. In Batam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Batam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.