Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $909 per month in Denpasar, Bali vs $326 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,516 per month in Denpasar, Bali vs $521 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,123 per month in Denpasar, Bali vs $716 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Denpasar, Bali costs about 178% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Denpasar, Bali and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Denpasar, Bali 34% lower, Banda Aceh 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$2.30 Rp 40.7K
-3.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.92 Rp 423.6K
$7.01 Rp 124.1K
241.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.76 Rp 66.5K
$3.50 Rp 61.9K
7.43%
Cappuccino
$1.77 Rp 31.4K
$1.26 Rp 22.3K
40.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 Rp 21.9K
$0.42 Rp 7,429
195.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,131
$0.24 Rp 4,264
116.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.94 Rp 34.4K
$2.51 Rp 44.4K
-22.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 Rp 51.9K
$3.93 Rp 69.6K
-25.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 Rp 22.9K
$1.65 Rp 29.3K
-21.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 Rp 32.9K
$0.89 Rp 15.7K
108.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 Rp 16.1K
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
19.74%
Eggs
$1.76 Rp 31.2K
$1.61 Rp 28.5K
9.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.64 Rp 259.2K
$8.58 Rp 151.9K
70.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 Rp 56.6K
$2.49 Rp 44.0K
28.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.81 Rp 173.7K
$6.83 Rp 120.9K
43.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 Rp 53.8K
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
31.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.3K
$0.88 Rp 15.6K
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 33.0K
$0.89 Rp 15.7K
110.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 28.4K
$0.88 Rp 15.5K
81.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Rp 27.0K
$0.88 Rp 15.6K
73.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.3K
$3.47 Rp 61.4K
-44.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.81 Rp 14.3K
-3.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,346
$0.45 Rp 7,985
-8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 Rp 33.3K
$3.17 Rp 56.2K
-40.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.97 Rp 335.9K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 Rp 33.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 Rp 44.3K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,267
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.36 Rp 130.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 Rp 7,657
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 Rp 6,963
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 Rp 54.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.67 Rp 11.9K
8.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K Rp 399.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K Rp 500.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.9 Rp 1.3M
$34.54 Rp 611.7K
119.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.96 Rp 105.5K
$2.36 Rp 41.8K
152.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.71 Rp 296.0K
$23.88 Rp 422.8K
-30.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.78 Rp 704.5K
$9.69 Rp 171.5K
310.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21 Rp 233.9K
$13.38 Rp 237.0K
-1.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$370 Rp 6.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,428 Rp 78.4M
$1,963 Rp 34.8M
125.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.11 Rp 710.2K
$28.52 Rp 505.1K
40.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66 Rp 542.9K
$22.86 Rp 404.8K
34.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 Rp 1.3M
$44.76 Rp 792.6K
58.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
$28.29 Rp 501.0K
139.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$585 Rp 10.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 Rp 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,846 Rp 32.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 Rp 16.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,456 Rp 25.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,214 Rp 21.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Banda Aceh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$284 Rp 5.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 12, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali versus $7.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $137 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Denpasar, Bali vs Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banda Aceh cheaper than Denpasar, Bali?
Yes – Denpasar, Bali is pricier by about 178%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,364 per month in Denpasar, Bali and $490 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Banda Aceh?
Groceries cost about 75% more in Denpasar, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Denpasar, Bali or in Banda Aceh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali and $7.00 in Banda Aceh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Denpasar, Bali or in Banda Aceh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $326, than in Denpasar, Bali at $909. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Denpasar, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Denpasar, Bali or Banda Aceh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Denpasar, Bali or Banda Aceh?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Denpasar, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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