🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Batam versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,103 in Batam versus $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,546 in Batam versus $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali.
🌍Living in Batam costs roughly 30% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Batam51% lower, Denpasar, Bali29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79Rp 50.1K
$2.38Rp 42.8K
17.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.30Rp 166.9K
$21.21Rp 380.5K
-56.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.54Rp 63.4K
$3.39Rp 60.9K
4.42%
Cappuccino
$2.21Rp 39.6K
$1.87Rp 33.6K
18.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33Rp 23.9K
$0.86Rp 15.4K
54.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,343
$0.49Rp 8,810
-16.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80Rp 50.3K
$2.02Rp 36.2K
38.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02Rp 72.1K
$2.54Rp 45.6K
58.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.42Rp 25.4K
-14.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$2.07Rp 37.1K
-41.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.99Rp 17.8K
-14.14%
Eggs
$1.36Rp 24.4K
$1.96Rp 35.2K
-30.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11Rp 145.4K
$11.90Rp 213.4K
-31.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.66Rp 47.6K
$3.50Rp 62.8K
-24.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.82Rp 86.5K
$9.90Rp 177.6K
-51.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.6K
$3.12Rp 56.0K
-23.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.5K
$1.29Rp 23.2K
75.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.2K
$2.28Rp 41.0K
-4.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.8K
$1.83Rp 32.9K
-39.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$1.55Rp 27.9K
-34.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16Rp 38.7K
$1.85Rp 33.1K
16.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46Rp 26.3K
$0.82Rp 14.6K
78.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,087
$0.62Rp 11.2K
-35.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65Rp 47.6K
$2.65Rp 47.5K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$13.68Rp 245.3K
$18.39Rp 330.0K
-25.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97Rp 35.4K
$2.35Rp 42.2K
-16.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64Rp 47.3K
$2.24Rp 40.2K
17.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,402
$0.26Rp 4,695
80.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.91Rp 303.3K
$7.41Rp 133.0K
128.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26Rp 22.5K
$0.44Rp 7,857
186.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65Rp 11.7K
$0.38Rp 6,851
71.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.72Rp 66.7K
$5.43Rp 97.4K
-31.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.8K
$0.72Rp 12.9K
15.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KRp 532.2M
$23.1KRp 413.5M
28.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2KRp 343.6M
$28.6KRp 512.5M
-32.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.8Rp 1.4M
$72.9Rp 1.3M
6.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96Rp 71.1K
$3.72Rp 66.8K
6.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.92Rp 464.9K
$21.15Rp 379.4K
22.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.33Rp 544.1K
$68.2Rp 1.2M
-55.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.04Rp 144.3K
$4.71Rp 84.4K
70.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08Rp 55.3K
$2.81Rp 50.5K
9.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.3Rp 1.7M
$233Rp 4.2M
-60.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,643Rp 65.4M
$5,136Rp 92.1M
-29.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.31Rp 633.5K
$46.35Rp 831.4K
-23.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.55Rp 368.6K
$32.50Rp 583.0K
-36.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$75.6Rp 1.4M
-4.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.40Rp 473.5K
$65.5Rp 1.2M
-59.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294Rp 5.3M
$528Rp 9.5M
-44.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166Rp 3.0M
$356Rp 6.4M
-53.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$890Rp 16.0M
$1,791Rp 32.1M
-50.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$560Rp 10.0M
$1,090Rp 19.5M
-48.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$550Rp 9.9M
$1,415Rp 25.4M
-61.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,164Rp 20.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$334Rp 6.0M
$278Rp 5.0M
20.28%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Batam and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Batam pays 20% 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 $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 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 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Batam or Denpasar, Bali?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Batam, 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: $294 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 128% 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 $93.3 in Batam versus $233 in Denpasar, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 enough for either Batam or Denpasar, Bali?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 43% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.