🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Batam versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,103 in Batam versus $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,546 in Batam versus $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🌍Living in Batam costs roughly 62% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Batam is 51% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79Rp 50.1K
$4.27Rp 76.7K
-34.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.30Rp 167.2K
$39.90Rp 717.1K
-76.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.54Rp 63.5K
$6.16Rp 110.6K
-42.53%
Cappuccino
$2.21Rp 39.7K
$3.29Rp 59.0K
-32.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33Rp 24.0K
$1.62Rp 29.2K
-17.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,356
$0.89Rp 15.9K
-53.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80Rp 50.4K
$3.53Rp 63.5K
-20.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02Rp 72.3K
$4.76Rp 85.5K
-15.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$1.87Rp 33.7K
-35.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$2.63Rp 47.3K
-53.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85Rp 15.3K
$1.27Rp 22.8K
-33.07%
Eggs
$1.36Rp 24.4K
$2.57Rp 46.1K
-47.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$15.13Rp 271.9K
-46.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.66Rp 47.7K
$4.37Rp 78.6K
-39.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.82Rp 86.7K
$12.43Rp 223.3K
-61.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.7K
$3.96Rp 71.2K
-39.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.6K
$1.63Rp 29.3K
38.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.2K
$2.90Rp 52.1K
-24.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.8K
$2.35Rp 42.2K
-53.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$2.00Rp 36.0K
-49.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16Rp 38.8K
$2.30Rp 41.4K
-6.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46Rp 26.3K
$1.08Rp 19.4K
35.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,100
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-50.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65Rp 47.7K
$3.28Rp 59.0K
-19.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.68Rp 245.8K
$24.45Rp 439.4K
-44.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97Rp 35.5K
$2.89Rp 52.0K
-31.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64Rp 47.4K
$2.87Rp 51.6K
-8.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,417
$0.36Rp 6,518
30.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.91Rp 303.8K
$10.28Rp 184.8K
64.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26Rp 22.6K
$0.57Rp 10.2K
121.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65Rp 11.7K
$0.57Rp 10.2K
14.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.72Rp 66.9K
$7.63Rp 137.0K
-51.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-21.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KRp 533.1M
$32.2KRp 578.0M
-7.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2KRp 344.2M
$40.3KRp 723.6M
-52.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.8Rp 1.4M
$88.2Rp 1.6M
-11.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96Rp 71.2K
$4.47Rp 80.4K
-11.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.92Rp 465.8K
$26.05Rp 468.2K
-0.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.33Rp 545.1K
$115Rp 2.1M
-73.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.04Rp 144.6K
$7.75Rp 139.3K
3.74%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08Rp 55.4K
$4.70Rp 84.5K
-34.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.3Rp 1.7M
$339Rp 6.1M
-72.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,643Rp 65.5M
$7,595Rp 136.5M
-52.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.31Rp 634.6K
$60.8Rp 1.1M
-41.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.55Rp 369.3K
$42.63Rp 766.1K
-51.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$97.9Rp 1.8M
-26.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.40Rp 474.4K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-69.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294Rp 5.3M
$1,369Rp 24.6M
-78.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166Rp 3.0M
$920Rp 16.5M
-81.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$890Rp 16.0M
$4,495Rp 80.8M
-80.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$560Rp 10.1M
$2,803Rp 50.4M
-80.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$550Rp 9.9M
$3,751Rp 67.4M
-85.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,040Rp 54.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$334Rp 6.0M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Batam and $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Batam vs $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $312 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 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $990 in Batam and $2,638 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: $294 in Batam versus $1,369 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 64% 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 $93.3 in Batam versus $339 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 living in Batam or in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $660 in Batam versus $1,759 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 166% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.