Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Uluwatu, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Batam: $586 a month against $1,649 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Batam, Indonesia
Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Batam
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$586
/mo nomad
Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,649
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Batam and in Uluwatu, Bali

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 Uluwatu, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $586 in Batam versus $1,649 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Batam $586
  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,649

Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Batam versus $2,833 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Batam $984
  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,833

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,382 in Batam versus $4,017 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Batam $1,382
  • Uluwatu, Bali $4,017

Living in Batam costs roughly 64% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Batam is 57% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 Rp 35.3K
$3.90 Rp 70.7K
-50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.07 Rp 146.3K
$43.32 Rp 785.0K
-81.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.90 Rp 70.7K
$6.66 Rp 120.6K
-41.44%
Cappuccino
$2.05 Rp 37.1K
$3.16 Rp 57.3K
-35.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 Rp 11.0K
$2.01 Rp 36.4K
-69.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Rp 5,449
$0.92 Rp 16.7K
-67.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 Rp 44.7K
$3.24 Rp 58.7K
-23.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$5.17 Rp 93.6K
-29.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Rp 20.3K
$1.64 Rp 29.7K
-31.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 Rp 19.8K
$2.40 Rp 43.5K
-54.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
$1.26 Rp 22.8K
-35.71%
Eggs
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
$2.21 Rp 40.1K
-44.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.45 Rp 135.0K
$18.40 Rp 333.5K
-59.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.47 Rp 44.8K
$4.10 Rp 74.4K
-39.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 78.1K
$12.58 Rp 227.9K
-65.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 Rp 39.2K
$3.68 Rp 66.7K
-41.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 36.2K
$1.66 Rp 30.0K
20.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$2.44 Rp 44.2K
-19.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
$2.00 Rp 36.3K
-48.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
$1.87 Rp 33.9K
-49.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 35.5K
$2.50 Rp 45.3K
-21.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 Rp 23.4K
$1.07 Rp 19.5K
20.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 8,036
$0.54 Rp 9,833
-18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
16.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 Rp 249.8K
$23.39 Rp 423.8K
-41.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 Rp 30.4K
$2.48 Rp 44.9K
-32.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.3K
$3.11 Rp 56.4K
-25.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 Rp 7,419
$0.29 Rp 5,194
41.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.34 Rp 205.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 Rp 20.5K
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
88.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 Rp 10.6K
$0.55 Rp 9,893
5.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 Rp 62.0K
$2.60 Rp 47.0K
31.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
-18.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K Rp 499.6M
$30.0K Rp 544.4M
-8.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K Rp 445.8M
$40.1K Rp 726.0M
-38.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
$89.3 Rp 1.6M
-24.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 74.2K
$7.18 Rp 130.1K
-43.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.58 Rp 409.2K
$19.86 Rp 359.8K
13.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.03 Rp 489.9K
$58.1 Rp 1.1M
-53.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.66 Rp 102.5K
$20.68 Rp 374.8K
-72.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66 Rp 48.3K
$5.06 Rp 91.7K
-47.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$545 Rp 9.9M
-84.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,186 Rp 57.7M
$6,343 Rp 114.9M
-49.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.46 Rp 570.0K
$49.39 Rp 895.0K
-36.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.99 Rp 326.0K
$38.55 Rp 698.6K
-53.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 Rp 1.2M
$87.3 Rp 1.6M
-26.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.72 Rp 429.9K
$85.4 Rp 1.5M
-72.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$265 Rp 4.8M
$1,531 Rp 27.7M
-82.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$145 Rp 2.6M
$901 Rp 16.3M
-83.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$796 Rp 14.4M
$4,801 Rp 87.0M
-83.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 Rp 9.0M
$2,305 Rp 41.8M
-78.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$542 Rp 9.8M
$3,735 Rp 67.7M
-85.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,095 Rp 56.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 Rp 6.0M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Batam
$172
Uluwatu, Bali
$303 76.3% $131
Accommodation & Living
Batam
$145
Uluwatu, Bali
$901 521% $756
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
$94
Uluwatu, Bali
$116 23.1% $22
Eating Out
Batam
$75
Uluwatu, Bali
$127 69.6% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Batam
$62
Uluwatu, Bali
$117 89.5% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Batam
$32
Uluwatu, Bali
$68 111% $36
Getting Around
Batam
$5.7 *
Uluwatu, Bali
$16 178% $10

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Batam and $1,531 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $8 in Batam vs $43 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $303 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Batam
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🕒 Local time
15:56 3:56 PM
16:56 4:56 PM
1 h ahead of Batam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,196,396
5,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Batam Uluwatu, Bali 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Batam
  • Uluwatu, Bali

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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batam cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali?
Batam is about 64% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $880 in Batam and $2,473 in Uluwatu, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Batam and Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Batam versus $1,531 in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Uluwatu, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Batam and in Uluwatu, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $586 per month in Batam versus $1,649 in Uluwatu, Bali – Batam is about 64% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Batam or in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $586 in Batam versus $1,649 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Batam but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Batam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Batam or in Uluwatu, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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