🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $605 in Batam versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in Batam versus $1,545 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,387 in Batam versus $2,186 in Denpasar, Bali.
🌍Living in Batam costs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Batam56% lower, Denpasar, Bali34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.93Rp 34.4K
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-17.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.23Rp 146.3K
$25.80Rp 458.3K
-68.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.94Rp 70.1K
$3.76Rp 66.8K
4.79%
Cappuccino
$2.11Rp 37.4K
$1.83Rp 32.5K
15.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.6K
$1.14Rp 20.3K
-47.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,538
$0.54Rp 9,661
-42.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48Rp 44.0K
$1.83Rp 32.5K
35.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56Rp 63.3K
$2.80Rp 49.8K
27.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19Rp 21.1K
$1.29Rp 23.0K
-7.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 19.2K
$1.86Rp 33.0K
-41.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$0.95Rp 16.8K
-15.79%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.9K
$1.71Rp 30.5K
-28.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.60Rp 135.1K
$14.24Rp 252.9K
-46.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.46Rp 43.6K
$3.16Rp 56.1K
-22.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.50Rp 80.0K
$10.16Rp 180.5K
-55.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.2K
$2.91Rp 51.7K
-24.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01Rp 35.8K
$1.30Rp 23.1K
54.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10Rp 37.2K
$1.87Rp 33.2K
12.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$1.65Rp 29.3K
-37.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.3K
$1.47Rp 26.1K
-34.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01Rp 35.7K
$1.98Rp 35.2K
1.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34Rp 23.9K
$0.81Rp 14.3K
65.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,585
$0.42Rp 7,393
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89Rp 51.4K
$1.83Rp 32.4K
57.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.22Rp 252.6K
$19.06Rp 338.6K
-25.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81Rp 32.2K
$1.86Rp 33.1K
-2.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41Rp 42.8K
$2.31Rp 41.0K
4.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41Rp 7,328
$0.22Rp 3,904
86.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.39Rp 131.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15Rp 20.4K
$0.43Rp 7,649
167.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61Rp 10.8K
$0.43Rp 7,595
41.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.63Rp 64.6K
$3.20Rp 56.8K
13.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73Rp 12.9K
$0.69Rp 12.3K
5.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRp 504.0M
$22.5KRp 400.3M
25.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KRp 449.6M
$28.5KRp 506.7M
-11.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.6Rp 1.3M
$72.9Rp 1.3M
-3.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22Rp 74.9K
$5.79Rp 102.8K
-27.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.48Rp 417.2K
$16.73Rp 297.2K
40.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.14Rp 482.2K
$40.09Rp 712.3K
-32.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.52Rp 98.1K
$12.87Rp 228.6K
-57.11%
Cinema Ticket
$2.61Rp 46.4K
$3.19Rp 56.6K
-18.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$85.7Rp 1.5M
$382Rp 6.8M
-77.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,343Rp 59.4M
$4,414Rp 78.4M
-24.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.61Rp 561.5K
$39.21Rp 696.5K
-19.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.64Rp 331.2K
$30.71Rp 545.5K
-39.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.6Rp 1.1M
$69.1Rp 1.2M
-6.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.88Rp 441.9K
$68.0Rp 1.2M
-63.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277Rp 4.9M
$602Rp 10.7M
-54.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152Rp 2.7M
$358Rp 6.4M
-57.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826Rp 14.7M
$1,879Rp 33.4M
-56.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$506Rp 9.0M
$893Rp 15.9M
-43.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$557Rp 9.9M
$1,433Rp 25.5M
-61.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,191Rp 21.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341Rp 6.1M
$285Rp 5.1M
19.56%
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: August 30, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Batam and $602 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: $8.00 in Batam vs $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $238 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, Getting Around. The 49% 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: $277 in Batam versus $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Batam and in Denpasar, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Denpasar, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Batam and in Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $605 per month in Batam versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Batam or in Denpasar, Bali?
At $605 in Batam versus $904 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 49% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.