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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $664 in Batam versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in Batam versus $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Batam versus $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Batam costs roughly 61% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Batam is 50% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$4.14 Rp 74.3K
-32.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.36 Rp 167.7K
$38.93 Rp 697.9K
-75.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.63 Rp 65.1K
$5.99 Rp 107.3K
-39.40%
Cappuccino
$2.11 Rp 37.9K
$3.39 Rp 60.8K
-37.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 Rp 23.0K
$1.61 Rp 28.9K
-20.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,417
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
-53.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$3.53 Rp 63.3K
-20.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 Rp 72.8K
$4.59 Rp 82.2K
-11.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.83 Rp 32.8K
-34.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 Rp 21.6K
$2.66 Rp 47.7K
-54.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
$1.21 Rp 21.6K
-28.93%
Eggs
$1.35 Rp 24.2K
$2.53 Rp 45.4K
-46.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 Rp 144.4K
$15.46 Rp 277.1K
-47.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.65 Rp 47.5K
$4.56 Rp 81.7K
-41.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.91 Rp 88.1K
$12.51 Rp 224.2K
-60.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.9K
$3.90 Rp 69.9K
-38.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
33.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 39.9K
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-23.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$2.38 Rp 42.6K
-51.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$2.06 Rp 36.9K
-51.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 Rp 37.6K
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
-11.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
$1.08 Rp 19.4K
35.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,145
$0.74 Rp 13.4K
-45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-16.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.28 Rp 255.9K
$25.10 Rp 450.0K
-43.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 Rp 35.0K
$3.00 Rp 53.8K
-35.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 Rp 46.7K
$2.90 Rp 52.0K
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 Rp 8,359
$0.34 Rp 6,080
38.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.67 Rp 298.8K
$10.40 Rp 186.5K
60.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 Rp 21.6K
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
101.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 Rp 11.4K
$0.54 Rp 9,620
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.74 Rp 67.0K
$7.56 Rp 135.5K
-50.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$1.03 Rp 18.5K
-26.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Rp 533.5M
$32.2K Rp 576.7M
-7.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K Rp 335.2M
$39.4K Rp 706.3M
-52.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.5 Rp 1.4M
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
-13.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.13 Rp 74.1K
$4.34 Rp 77.8K
-4.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19 Rp 451.5K
$26.50 Rp 475.0K
-4.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.45 Rp 527.9K
$112 Rp 2.0M
-73.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.27 Rp 148.3K
$7.62 Rp 136.6K
8.53%
Cinema Ticket
$3.12 Rp 56.0K
$4.77 Rp 85.5K
-34.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.3 Rp 1.6M
$347 Rp 6.2M
-73.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,649 Rp 65.4M
$7,491 Rp 134.3M
-51.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.38 Rp 634.1K
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
-41.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.60 Rp 369.3K
$42.64 Rp 764.3K
-51.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
$97.5 Rp 1.7M
-26.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.15 Rp 468.7K
$85.2 Rp 1.5M
-69.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$300 Rp 5.4M
$1,335 Rp 23.9M
-77.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 Rp 2.9M
$921 Rp 16.5M
-82.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 Rp 16.4M
$4,567 Rp 81.9M
-79.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$556 Rp 10.0M
$2,786 Rp 49.9M
-80.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$563 Rp 10.1M
$3,712 Rp 66.5M
-84.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,139 Rp 56.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 Rp 6.2M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Batam and $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Batam vs $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $315 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Batam?
Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 156% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $996 in Batam and $2,550 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: $300 in Batam versus $1,335 in Uluwatu, 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 60% less than in Uluwatu, 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 $347 in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
At $664 in Batam versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 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 Batam or Uluwatu, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Uluwatu, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Batam or Uluwatu, Bali?
Safety-wise, Batam and Uluwatu, 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 156% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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