Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Batam

For one person, living is cheaper in Batam: $586 a month against $905 in Denpasar, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Batam, Indonesia
Denpasar, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$905
/mo nomad
Batam
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Denpasar, Bali and in Batam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Denpasar, Bali and in Batam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Denpasar, Bali versus $586 in Batam.

  • Denpasar, Bali $905
  • Batam $586

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,497 in Denpasar, Bali versus $984 in Batam.

  • Denpasar, Bali $1,497
  • Batam $984

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,089 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,382 in Batam.

  • Denpasar, Bali $2,089
  • Batam $1,382

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 54% more expensive than in Batam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 34% lower, Batam 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.95 Rp 35.3K
14.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.40 Rp 424.4K
$8.07 Rp 146.4K
189.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.84 Rp 69.6K
$3.90 Rp 70.8K
-1.54%
Cappuccino
$1.76 Rp 31.8K
$2.05 Rp 37.1K
-14.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 Rp 21.0K
$0.61 Rp 11.1K
90.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,758
$0.30 Rp 5,454
80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 Rp 32.6K
$2.47 Rp 44.7K
-27.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 51.5K
$3.66 Rp 66.5K
-22.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
$1.12 Rp 20.4K
8.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$1.09 Rp 19.8K
63.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 Rp 17.8K
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
20.99%
Eggs
$1.72 Rp 31.3K
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
40.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.45 Rp 262.2K
$7.45 Rp 135.1K
93.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 Rp 58.4K
$2.47 Rp 44.8K
30.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.52 Rp 172.6K
$4.31 Rp 78.1K
120.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 Rp 53.0K
$2.17 Rp 39.3K
34.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.7K
$2.00 Rp 36.3K
-37.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 34.0K
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-4.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.8K
$1.03 Rp 18.8K
54.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
56.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 34.0K
$1.96 Rp 35.5K
-4.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
$1.29 Rp 23.4K
-34.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 7,087
$0.44 Rp 8,044
-11.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81 Rp 32.8K
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-33.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 Rp 326.0K
$13.78 Rp 250.0K
30.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 Rp 34.7K
$1.68 Rp 30.5K
13.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 Rp 44.3K
$2.33 Rp 42.3K
4.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,159
$0.41 Rp 7,427
-43.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.97 Rp 144.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 Rp 7,620
$1.13 Rp 20.5K
-62.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,744
$0.58 Rp 10.6K
-25.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 Rp 55.8K
$3.42 Rp 62.1K
-10.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 Rp 13.6K
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
-10.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K Rp 391.6M
$27.6K Rp 500.0M
-21.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K Rp 535.5M
$24.6K Rp 446.2M
20.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
8.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.88 Rp 106.6K
$4.09 Rp 74.3K
43.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.22 Rp 294.2K
$22.58 Rp 409.6K
-28.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.04 Rp 635.5K
$27.03 Rp 490.3K
29.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.85 Rp 233.1K
$5.66 Rp 102.6K
127.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.03 Rp 54.9K
$2.66 Rp 48.3K
13.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$378 Rp 6.8M
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
354.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,463 Rp 80.9M
$3,186 Rp 57.8M
40.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.59 Rp 718.2K
$31.46 Rp 570.6K
25.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.73 Rp 539.2K
$17.99 Rp 326.3K
65.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.0 Rp 1.2M
$64.4 Rp 1.2M
4.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.8 Rp 1.2M
$23.72 Rp 430.3K
181.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 Rp 10.7M
$265 Rp 4.8M
123.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 Rp 6.5M
$145 Rp 2.6M
148.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,857 Rp 33.7M
$796 Rp 14.4M
133.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$889 Rp 16.1M
$499 Rp 9.1M
78.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,448 Rp 26.3M
$542 Rp 9.8M
167.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,176 Rp 21.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 Rp 5.1M
$334 Rp 6.1M
-16.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
13.17
4.63%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: October 26, 2026

Last update for Batam: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
$360
Batam
$145 59.7% $215
Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
$233
Batam
$172 26.3% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
$96
Batam
$94 1.3% $1.2
Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
$91
Batam
$62 32.3% $30
Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
$72
Batam
$75 4.4% $3.2
Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
$41
Batam
$32 21.2% $8.7
Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
$11
Batam
$5.7 * 50.3% $5.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $591 in Denpasar, Bali and $265 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batam pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23 in Denpasar, Bali vs $8 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $172 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Denpasar, Bali
🇮🇩 Batam
🕒 Local time
09:46 9:46 AM
08:46 8:46 AM
1 h behind Denpasar, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
788,445
1,196,396
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,252 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Denpasar, Bali Batam 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Denpasar, Bali
  • Batam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Batam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batam cheaper than Denpasar, Bali?
Batam is about 35% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Denpasar, Bali or Batam?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Denpasar, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Denpasar, Bali and Batam?
Rent for a central apartment: $591 in Denpasar, Bali versus $265 in Batam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Batam?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Denpasar, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Denpasar, Bali and in Batam?
All in, you’ll spend $905 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $586 in Batam – Batam is about 35% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 enough for either Denpasar, Bali or Batam?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Denpasar, Bali or in Batam?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Denpasar, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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