Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Batam 50% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$2.41 Rp 43.1K
15.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.36 Rp 167.7K
$21.74 Rp 389.8K
-56.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.63 Rp 65.1K
$3.26 Rp 58.4K
11.35%
Cappuccino
$2.11 Rp 37.9K
$1.89 Rp 33.9K
11.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 Rp 23.0K
$0.92 Rp 16.6K
39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,417
$0.47 Rp 8,400
-12.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
46.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 Rp 72.8K
$2.56 Rp 45.9K
58.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
-16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 Rp 21.6K
$2.04 Rp 36.6K
-41.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
$0.92 Rp 16.6K
-6.52%
Eggs
$1.35 Rp 24.2K
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-29.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 Rp 144.4K
$11.89 Rp 213.2K
-32.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.65 Rp 47.5K
$3.41 Rp 61.2K
-22.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.91 Rp 88.1K
$9.95 Rp 178.4K
-50.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.9K
$3.09 Rp 55.4K
-22.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
73.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 39.9K
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
0.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$1.81 Rp 32.5K
-36.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$1.61 Rp 28.9K
-38.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 Rp 37.6K
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
69.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,145
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
-29.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$2.64 Rp 47.3K
3.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.28 Rp 255.9K
$19.27 Rp 345.5K
-25.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 Rp 35.0K
$2.25 Rp 40.3K
-13.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 Rp 46.7K
$2.23 Rp 40.0K
17.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 Rp 8,359
$0.24 Rp 4,273
95.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.67 Rp 298.8K
$7.34 Rp 131.5K
127.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 Rp 21.6K
$0.44 Rp 7,842
175.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 Rp 11.4K
$0.39 Rp 6,941
61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.74 Rp 67.0K
$5.45 Rp 97.6K
-31.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.74 Rp 13.2K
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Rp 533.5M
$23.5K Rp 422.1M
26.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K Rp 335.2M
$29.1K Rp 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)
$75.5 Rp 1.4M
$70.5 Rp 1.3M
7.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.13 Rp 74.1K
$3.67 Rp 65.8K
12.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19 Rp 451.5K
$21.23 Rp 380.6K
18.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.45 Rp 527.9K
$69.5 Rp 1.2M
-57.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.27 Rp 148.3K
$4.45 Rp 79.8K
85.84%
Cinema Ticket
$3.12 Rp 56.0K
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
7.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.3 Rp 1.6M
$227 Rp 4.1M
-59.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,649 Rp 65.4M
$5,191 Rp 93.1M
-29.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.38 Rp 634.1K
$47.61 Rp 853.5K
-25.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.60 Rp 369.3K
$32.45 Rp 581.7K
-36.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
$76.3 Rp 1.4M
-5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.15 Rp 468.7K
$66.7 Rp 1.2M
-60.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$300 Rp 5.4M
$528 Rp 9.5M
-43.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 Rp 2.9M
$344 Rp 6.2M
-53.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 Rp 16.4M
$1,801 Rp 32.3M
-49.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$556 Rp 10.0M
$1,065 Rp 19.1M
-47.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$563 Rp 10.1M
$1,476 Rp 26.5M
-61.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,184 Rp 21.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 Rp 6.2M
$335 Rp 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.

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