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