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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $479 in Malang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali versus $721 in Malang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,128 in Denpasar, Bali versus $962 in Malang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 89% more expensive than in Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 34% lower, Malang 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$1.09 Rp 19.4K

103.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 Rp 455.6K

$11.12 Rp 197.6K

130.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.59 Rp 63.8K

$2.75 Rp 48.9K

30.55%

Cappuccino

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

29.63%

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

$1.12 Rp 20.0K

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

86.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 Rp 8,553

$0.21 Rp 3,731

128.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 Rp 31.2K

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.5K

$4.27 Rp 75.8K

-33.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

31.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 Rp 32.9K

$1.09 Rp 19.4K

69.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 15.0K

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

9.09%

Eggs

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$1.19 Rp 21.2K

47.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 Rp 253.5K

$5.97 Rp 106.0K

138.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 57.7K

$3.05 Rp 54.3K

6.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 Rp 173.6K

$7.09 Rp 126.1K

37.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 Rp 51.5K

$2.07 Rp 36.9K

40.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

-2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.7K

$1.61 Rp 28.7K

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

$1.42 Rp 25.2K

16.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 26.9K

$1.25 Rp 22.3K

20.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 Rp 31.4K

$1.99 Rp 35.3K

-11.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

$0.51 Rp 9,116

62.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,424

$0.39 Rp 7,020

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 Rp 32.9K

$2.65 Rp 47.2K

-30.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.92 Rp 336.4K

$12.50 Rp 222.2K

51.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

$1.70 Rp 30.3K

12.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$3.01 Rp 53.5K

-22.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 Rp 3,885

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

-63.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 131.8K

$5.51 Rp 97.9K

34.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 Rp 7,587

$0.51 Rp 9,139

-15.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,594

$0.37 Rp 6,602

16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 Rp 53.9K

$5.69 Rp 101.1K

-46.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 Rp 12.0K

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

6.35%

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

$22.1K Rp 393.7M

$25.1K Rp 446.7M

-11.87%

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

$28.2K Rp 501.8M

$27.8K Rp 494.7M

1.43%

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

$73.5 Rp 1.3M

$30.62 Rp 544.2K

140.04%

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

$5.84 Rp 103.7K

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

150.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.79 Rp 298.4K

$19.94 Rp 354.4K

-15.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.72 Rp 705.9K

$14.53 Rp 258.3K

173.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.98 Rp 230.7K

$4.64 Rp 82.5K

179.74%

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 Rp 55.8K

$1.93 Rp 34.4K

62.69%

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

$382 Rp 6.8M

$30.30 Rp 538.6K

1159.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,482 Rp 79.7M

$8,120 Rp 144.3M

-44.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.48 Rp 701.6K

$56.8 Rp 1.0M

-30.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.40 Rp 540.3K

$22.00 Rp 391.1K

38.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 Rp 1.2M

$52.9 Rp 939.4K

28.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.5 Rp 1.2M

$36.31 Rp 645.5K

85.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 Rp 10.6M

$142 Rp 2.5M

320.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 Rp 6.4M

$92.8 Rp 1.6M

286.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,828 Rp 32.5M

$197 Rp 3.5M

829.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 Rp 16.0M

$152 Rp 2.7M

492.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,460 Rp 25.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 Rp 21.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 4.9M

$199 Rp 3.5M

39.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

244.50%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 17, 2026

Last update for Malang: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $596 in Denpasar, Bali and $142 in Malang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 39% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $11.00 in Malang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $169 per month, with Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Malang differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($904 vs $479 including rent). Malang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 39% higher in Denpasar, Bali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $596 in Denpasar, Bali versus $142 in Malang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $904 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $479 in Malang – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Malang runs roughly 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $479 in Malang versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malang but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Malang 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 Malang 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 Malang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.