Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Karawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Karawang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Denpasar, Bali versus $500 in Karawang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,681 in Denpasar, Bali versus $745 in Karawang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,404 in Denpasar, Bali versus $991 in Karawang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 92% more expensive than in Karawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 28% lower, Karawang 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 Rp 43.5K

$1.28 Rp 23.1K

88.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.01 Rp 397.4K

$9.36 Rp 168.9K

135.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 Rp 58.7K

$3.48 Rp 62.8K

-6.61%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.5K

$1.43 Rp 25.8K

25.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

$0.48 Rp 8,710

81.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,400

$0.24 Rp 4,336

95.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.2K

$3.34 Rp 60.2K

-41.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 Rp 47.0K

$3.52 Rp 63.5K

-26.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 26.0K

$1.23 Rp 22.2K

17.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 Rp 36.7K

$1.07 Rp 19.3K

89.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 Rp 16.4K

$0.89 Rp 16.2K

2.25%

Eggs

$1.97 Rp 35.5K

$1.59 Rp 28.7K

23.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 Rp 213.2K

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

292.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 Rp 61.7K

$3.11 Rp 56.1K

9.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.84 Rp 177.6K

$8.02 Rp 144.8K

22.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

$1.95 Rp 35.3K

58.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

$1.14 Rp 20.6K

14.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.9K

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

63.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 34.3K

$0.52 Rp 9,447

265.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

$0.99 Rp 17.9K

55.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 Rp 33.8K

$1.67 Rp 30.2K

11.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

$0.90 Rp 16.3K

-8.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 Rp 10.6K

$0.43 Rp 7,728

37.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 Rp 47.4K

$2.58 Rp 46.5K

1.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 Rp 335.3K

$22.29 Rp 402.4K

-16.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 Rp 40.9K

$2.02 Rp 36.4K

12.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 40.2K

$3.56 Rp 64.2K

-37.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,720

$0.65 Rp 11.8K

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.54 Rp 136.1K

$9.73 Rp 175.7K

-22.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,948

$0.75 Rp 13.6K

-41.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,497

$0.71 Rp 12.9K

-40.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 102.2K

$1.20 Rp 21.7K

371.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 Rp 13.1K

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.9K Rp 431.9M

$24.4K Rp 441.4M

-2.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.4K Rp 513.6M

$25.7K Rp 463.8M

10.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$71.0 Rp 1.3M

$44.10 Rp 796.2K

60.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.55 Rp 64.2K

$4.48 Rp 80.9K

-20.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.30 Rp 384.6K

$13.61 Rp 245.7K

56.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.6 Rp 1.2M

$22.08 Rp 398.5K

206.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.47 Rp 80.8K

$6.14 Rp 110.8K

-27.20%

Cinema Ticket

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

$3.14 Rp 56.7K

-11.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$234 Rp 4.2M

$47.75 Rp 862.0K

389.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,006 Rp 90.4M

$7,453 Rp 134.5M

-32.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.68 Rp 842.7K

$18.52 Rp 334.4K

152.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.96 Rp 595.0K

$31.21 Rp 563.4K

5.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 Rp 1.4M

$54.7 Rp 987.6K

37.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

$52.9 Rp 954.8K

24.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 Rp 9.6M

$154 Rp 2.8M

243.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 Rp 6.3M

$76.5 Rp 1.4M

353.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 Rp 32.3M

$244 Rp 4.4M

635.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 Rp 19.8M

$123 Rp 2.2M

790.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,426 Rp 25.7M

$1,135 Rp 20.5M

25.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,171 Rp 21.1M

$767 Rp 13.8M

52.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 Rp 5.0M

$411 Rp 7.4M

-32.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 26, 2026

Last update for Karawang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Denpasar, Bali and $154 in Karawang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karawang pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $9.00 in Karawang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $183 per month, with Karawang 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 Karawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Karawang differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $500 including rent). Karawang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Karawang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $530 in Denpasar, Bali versus $154 in Karawang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $500 in Karawang – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karawang runs roughly 29% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $500 in Karawang versus $959 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Karawang but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Karawang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Karawang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karawang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.