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: $616 in Batam versus $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Batam versus $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,418 in Batam versus $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Batam costs roughly 63% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Batam is 55% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 Rp 35.5K
$4.11 Rp 72.8K
-51.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.68 Rp 153.7K
$43.57 Rp 771.5K
-80.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.07 Rp 72.0K
$6.64 Rp 117.6K
-38.70%
Cappuccino
$2.14 Rp 38.0K
$3.38 Rp 59.8K
-36.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 Rp 11.1K
$2.19 Rp 38.8K
-71.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 Rp 5,506
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-69.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 Rp 46.0K
$3.56 Rp 63.1K
-26.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 Rp 65.9K
$5.43 Rp 96.1K
-31.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
$1.66 Rp 29.4K
-30.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 Rp 19.3K
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
-55.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
-35.54%
Eggs
$1.30 Rp 23.1K
$2.29 Rp 40.6K
-43.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.71 Rp 136.5K
$18.21 Rp 322.4K
-57.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.54 Rp 45.0K
$4.21 Rp 74.5K
-39.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.61 Rp 81.6K
$13.07 Rp 231.4K
-64.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 38.7K
$3.91 Rp 69.3K
-43.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 Rp 37.0K
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
28.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.6K
$2.47 Rp 43.8K
-16.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
-48.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 Rp 17.2K
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-48.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.3K
$2.59 Rp 45.8K
-23.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 Rp 23.6K
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
25.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,033
$0.56 Rp 9,996
-19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76 Rp 48.8K
$2.41 Rp 42.6K
14.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.89 Rp 245.9K
$24.21 Rp 428.6K
-42.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$2.50 Rp 44.2K
-30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 Rp 44.1K
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
-19.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 Rp 7,309
$0.31 Rp 5,577
32.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.28 Rp 181.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 Rp 10.6K
$0.58 Rp 10.2K
3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 Rp 63.3K
$2.69 Rp 47.5K
33.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.0K
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-21.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K Rp 504.0M
$30.3K Rp 536.2M
-5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K Rp 438.2M
$39.3K Rp 696.4M
-37.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.0 Rp 1.3M
$89.9 Rp 1.6M
-19.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.16 Rp 73.6K
$7.40 Rp 131.0K
-43.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.70 Rp 419.6K
$20.52 Rp 363.4K
15.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.92 Rp 476.7K
$65.8 Rp 1.2M
-59.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.63 Rp 99.7K
$21.34 Rp 377.8K
-73.62%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66 Rp 47.0K
$5.21 Rp 92.3K
-48.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$83.4 Rp 1.5M
$544 Rp 9.6M
-84.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,257 Rp 57.7M
$6,707 Rp 118.8M
-51.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.47 Rp 574.9K
$51.1 Rp 904.7K
-36.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.15 Rp 339.0K
$39.15 Rp 693.2K
-51.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.0 Rp 1.2M
$89.5 Rp 1.6M
-25.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.03 Rp 443.1K
$87.8 Rp 1.6M
-71.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 Rp 4.8M
$1,556 Rp 27.6M
-82.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$149 Rp 2.6M
$924 Rp 16.4M
-83.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 Rp 14.6M
$4,848 Rp 85.8M
-83.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 Rp 9.1M
$2,307 Rp 40.9M
-77.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$556 Rp 9.8M
$3,720 Rp 65.9M
-85.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,051 Rp 54.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$354 Rp 6.3M
-
-
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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Batam and $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Batam vs $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $309 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 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $925 in Batam and $2,528 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: $274 in Batam versus $1,556 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 75% 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 $616 per month in Batam versus $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 173% 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
At $616 in Batam versus $1,685 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 173% 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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