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: $940 in Denpasar, Bali versus $511 in Karawang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,630 in Denpasar, Bali versus $774 in Karawang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,320 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,037 in Karawang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 84% more expensive than Karawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 30% lower, Karawang 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 Rp 41.2K

$1.33 Rp 22.9K

78.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.86 Rp 377.5K

$9.19 Rp 158.7K

137.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.30 Rp 57.0K

$3.30 Rp 56.9K

Cappuccino

$1.90 Rp 32.9K

$1.45 Rp 25.0K

31.03%

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

$0.89 Rp 15.4K

$0.47 Rp 8,170

89.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,490

$0.24 Rp 4,158

104.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 33.7K

$3.34 Rp 57.7K

-41.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 Rp 43.4K

$3.45 Rp 59.5K

-27.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 Rp 24.3K

$1.22 Rp 21.1K

15.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 Rp 35.3K

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

92.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 Rp 16.6K

$0.87 Rp 15.1K

10.34%

Eggs

$2.00 Rp 34.6K

$1.57 Rp 27.1K

27.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.70 Rp 202.1K

$3.02 Rp 52.2K

287.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 Rp 59.2K

$3.08 Rp 53.2K

11.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.53 Rp 164.5K

$7.65 Rp 132.0K

24.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 Rp 53.6K

$2.05 Rp 35.3K

51.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 21.7K

$1.19 Rp 20.5K

5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 Rp 39.5K

$1.41 Rp 24.3K

62.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 Rp 32.3K

$0.58 Rp 9,960

222.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 27.9K

$0.99 Rp 17.1K

63.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 30.8K

$1.75 Rp 30.2K

1.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 Rp 14.0K

$0.89 Rp 15.4K

-8.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Rp 9,961

$0.45 Rp 7,780

28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 Rp 45.7K

$2.53 Rp 43.8K

4.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.10 Rp 329.9K

$23.18 Rp 400.3K

-17.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 Rp 40.0K

$2.04 Rp 35.2K

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 Rp 39.0K

$3.54 Rp 61.1K

-36.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,510

$0.65 Rp 11.2K

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.43 Rp 128.2K

$9.88 Rp 170.7K

-24.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.40 Rp 6,892

$0.72 Rp 12.4K

-44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 Rp 7,161

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

-46.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.40 Rp 93.2K

$1.27 Rp 21.9K

325.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.1K

$0.79 Rp 13.6K

-3.80%

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

$23.2K Rp 401.1M

$24.2K Rp 417.4M

-3.90%

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

$28.4K Rp 491.0M

$26.3K Rp 453.2M

8.33%

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

$73.2 Rp 1.3M

$44.20 Rp 763.1K

65.63%

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

$3.67 Rp 63.4K

$4.63 Rp 80.0K

-20.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.40 Rp 369.5K

$13.79 Rp 238.1K

55.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

$22.20 Rp 383.3K

213.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.67 Rp 80.6K

$15.09 Rp 260.6K

-69.05%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 Rp 48.6K

$3.14 Rp 54.3K

-10.51%

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

$234 Rp 4.0M

$47.65 Rp 822.8K

390.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,114 Rp 88.3M

$7,597 Rp 131.2M

-32.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 Rp 798.8K

$18.16 Rp 313.6K

154.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 Rp 556.0K

$31.10 Rp 537.0K

3.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 Rp 1.3M

$54.8 Rp 946.5K

34.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.2 Rp 1.2M

$54.0 Rp 932.2K

24.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 Rp 8.8M

$156 Rp 2.7M

227.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 Rp 5.9M

$76.4 Rp 1.3M

350.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,804 Rp 31.1M

$249 Rp 4.3M

623.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 Rp 18.4M

$123 Rp 2.1M

764.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,591 Rp 27.5M

$1,198 Rp 20.7M

32.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,226 Rp 21.2M

$722 Rp 12.5M

69.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$293 Rp 5.1M

$426 Rp 7.4M

-31.28%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Karawang: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Denpasar, Bali and $156 in Karawang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karawang pays 46% 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 $185 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 84% in total monthly costs ($940 vs $511 including rent). Karawang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karawang earns 46% less. 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: $512 in Denpasar, Bali versus $156 in Karawang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $940 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $511 in Karawang – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karawang runs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $511 in Karawang versus $940 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 84% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.