😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Denpasar, Bali versus $847 in Gili Air.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,486 in Gili Air.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali versus $2,126 in Gili Air.
😐Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 12% more expensive than Gili Air, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali29% lower, Gili Air37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35Rp 42.2K
$1.94Rp 34.8K
21.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.69Rp 388.7K
$17.51Rp 313.7K
23.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.23Rp 58.0K
$2.63Rp 47.1K
22.81%
Cappuccino
$1.90Rp 34.1K
$1.48Rp 26.5K
28.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94Rp 16.9K
$0.70Rp 12.6K
34.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,337
$0.40Rp 7,213
17.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99Rp 35.6K
$1.63Rp 29.2K
22.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56Rp 45.8K
$2.07Rp 37.1K
23.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46Rp 26.1K
$1.24Rp 22.2K
17.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99Rp 35.6K
$1.82Rp 32.6K
9.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.6K
$0.86Rp 15.4K
13.95%
Eggs
$1.98Rp 35.5K
$1.77Rp 31.7K
11.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.75Rp 210.4K
$10.58Rp 189.5K
11.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.38Rp 60.5K
$3.12Rp 55.9K
8.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.83Rp 176.0K
$8.63Rp 154.7K
13.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00Rp 53.8K
$2.63Rp 47.2K
14.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.2K
$1.10Rp 19.7K
18.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.8K
$1.99Rp 35.6K
14.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.5K
$1.61Rp 28.9K
12.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$1.42Rp 25.4K
10.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.8K
$1.65Rp 29.6K
7.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.71Rp 12.8K
12.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63Rp 11.2K
$0.52Rp 9,239
21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59Rp 46.4K
$2.25Rp 40.3K
15.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.61Rp 333.4K
$16.39Rp 293.6K
13.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$1.98Rp 35.5K
13.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32Rp 41.5K
$2.02Rp 36.2K
14.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,288
$0.21Rp 3,752
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.50Rp 134.4K
$6.72Rp 120.4K
11.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41Rp 7,327
$0.37Rp 6,610
10.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,836
$0.37Rp 6,548
2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61Rp 100.5K
$4.87Rp 87.2K
15.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$0.68Rp 12.1K
13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6KRp 422.0M
$20.8KRp 372.1M
13.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KRp 524.1M
$25.5KRp 457.2M
14.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.0Rp 1.3M
$63.4Rp 1.1M
13.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.69Rp 66.1K
$3.20Rp 57.4K
15.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.33Rp 382.1K
$19.44Rp 348.3K
9.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8Rp 1.2M
$55.8Rp 999.2K
23.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.53Rp 81.2K
$3.85Rp 68.9K
17.66%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.7K
$2.32Rp 41.6K
24.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$232Rp 4.2M
$202Rp 3.6M
15.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,015Rp 89.9M
$4,454Rp 79.8M
12.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.98Rp 841.7K
$44.23Rp 792.4K
6.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.75Rp 586.7K
$31.05Rp 556.3K
5.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5Rp 1.3M
$72.0Rp 1.3M
3.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3Rp 1.2M
$62.6Rp 1.1M
7.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515Rp 9.2M
$478Rp 8.6M
7.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349Rp 6.3M
$320Rp 5.7M
8.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,780Rp 31.9M
$1,597Rp 28.6M
11.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,083Rp 19.4M
$973Rp 17.4M
11.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,453Rp 26.0M
$1,323Rp 23.7M
9.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186Rp 21.3M
$1,060Rp 19.0M
11.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Gili Air
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$325Rp 5.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026
Last update for Gili Air: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Denpasar, Bali and $478 in Gili Air. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $18.00 in Gili Air for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $213 per month, with Gili Air 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
Denpasar, Bali vs Gili Air: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Denpasar, Bali and Gili Air?
Denpasar, Bali and Gili Air differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($950 vs $847 including rent). Gili Air is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Denpasar, Bali compared to Gili Air?
You'd need roughly $1,425 in Denpasar, Bali and $1,270 in Gili Air 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and Gili Air?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Denpasar, Bali versus $478 in Gili Air. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Gili Air?
All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $847 in Gili Air – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and Gili Air?
A monthly transit pass in Gili Air runs roughly 12% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $847 in Gili Air versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gili Air but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Gili Air the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Denpasar, Bali and Gili Air?
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.
Is Denpasar, Bali or Gili Air safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Gili Air are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Denpasar, Bali or Gili Air?
Expats usually find Gili Air gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Denpasar, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared