🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $664 in Batam versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in Batam versus $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Batam versus $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Living in Batam costs roughly 31% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Batam50% lower, Denpasar, Bali28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$2.41Rp 43.1K
15.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.36Rp 167.7K
$21.74Rp 389.8K
-56.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.63Rp 65.1K
$3.26Rp 58.4K
11.35%
Cappuccino
$2.11Rp 37.9K
$1.89Rp 33.9K
11.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28Rp 23.0K
$0.92Rp 16.6K
39.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,417
$0.47Rp 8,400
-12.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$1.92Rp 34.5K
46.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06Rp 72.8K
$2.56Rp 45.9K
58.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$1.44Rp 25.8K
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20Rp 21.6K
$2.04Rp 36.6K
-41.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86Rp 15.4K
$0.92Rp 16.6K
-6.52%
Eggs
$1.35Rp 24.2K
$1.91Rp 34.3K
-29.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05Rp 144.4K
$11.89Rp 213.2K
-32.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.5K
$3.41Rp 61.2K
-22.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.91Rp 88.1K
$9.95Rp 178.4K
-50.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.9K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
-22.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.2K
$1.26Rp 22.6K
73.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23Rp 39.9K
$2.22Rp 39.7K
0.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.6K
$1.81Rp 32.5K
-36.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.8K
$1.61Rp 28.9K
-38.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10Rp 37.6K
$1.80Rp 32.2K
16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46Rp 26.1K
$0.86Rp 15.4K
69.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,145
$0.57Rp 10.3K
-29.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74Rp 49.2K
$2.64Rp 47.3K
3.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.28Rp 255.9K
$19.27Rp 345.5K
-25.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95Rp 35.0K
$2.25Rp 40.3K
-13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61Rp 46.7K
$2.23Rp 40.0K
17.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,359
$0.24Rp 4,273
95.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.67Rp 298.8K
$7.34Rp 131.5K
127.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21Rp 21.6K
$0.44Rp 7,842
175.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63Rp 11.4K
$0.39Rp 6,941
61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.74Rp 67.0K
$5.45Rp 97.6K
-31.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$0.74Rp 13.2K
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KRp 533.5M
$23.5KRp 422.1M
26.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7KRp 335.2M
$29.1KRp 522.1M
-35.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.5Rp 1.4M
$70.5Rp 1.3M
7.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.13Rp 74.1K
$3.67Rp 65.8K
12.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19Rp 451.5K
$21.23Rp 380.6K
18.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.45Rp 527.9K
$69.5Rp 1.2M
-57.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.27Rp 148.3K
$4.45Rp 79.8K
85.84%
Cinema Ticket
$3.12Rp 56.0K
$2.91Rp 52.2K
7.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.3Rp 1.6M
$227Rp 4.1M
-59.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,649Rp 65.4M
$5,191Rp 93.1M
-29.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.38Rp 634.1K
$47.61Rp 853.5K
-25.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.60Rp 369.3K
$32.45Rp 581.7K
-36.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$76.3Rp 1.4M
-5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.15Rp 468.7K
$66.7Rp 1.2M
-60.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300Rp 5.4M
$528Rp 9.5M
-43.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161Rp 2.9M
$344Rp 6.2M
-53.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$915Rp 16.4M
$1,801Rp 32.3M
-49.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$556Rp 10.0M
$1,065Rp 19.1M
-47.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$563Rp 10.1M
$1,476Rp 26.5M
-61.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,184Rp 21.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346Rp 6.2M
$335Rp 6.0M
3.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.88
13.28
4.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Batam: May 31, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Batam and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Batam pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Batam vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $243 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.
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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denpasar, Bali cheaper than Batam?
Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Batam or Denpasar, Bali?
Batam pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Batam and Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $300 in Batam versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Batam runs roughly 127% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $91.3 in Batam versus $227 in Denpasar, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Batam or Denpasar, Bali?
At $664 in Batam versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batam but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Batam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Batam or Denpasar, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Denpasar, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Batam or Denpasar, Bali?
Safety-wise, Batam and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.