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: $950 in Denpasar, Bali versus $473 in Malang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali versus $742 in Malang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,012 in Malang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 101% more expensive than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Malang 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

94.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 Rp 388.7K

$12.17 Rp 218.1K

78.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 Rp 58.0K

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

3.19%

Cappuccino

$1.90 Rp 34.1K

$1.47 Rp 26.4K

29.25%

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

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

$0.62 Rp 11.0K

51.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,337

$0.24 Rp 4,320

95.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$2.53 Rp 45.3K

-21.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

$3.12 Rp 55.9K

-17.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

28.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

32.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

$0.81 Rp 14.5K

20.99%

Eggs

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

31.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.75 Rp 210.4K

$6.29 Rp 112.7K

86.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 Rp 60.5K

$3.24 Rp 58.0K

4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 Rp 176.0K

$7.26 Rp 130.1K

35.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

$2.31 Rp 41.5K

29.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.68 Rp 30.0K

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

25.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

13.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 31.8K

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

2.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.51 Rp 9,221

56.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.45 Rp 8,023

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

7.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.61 Rp 333.4K

$12.48 Rp 223.6K

49.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

25.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

-26.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,288

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

-58.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.50 Rp 134.4K

$5.99 Rp 107.4K

25.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 Rp 7,327

$0.44 Rp 7,878

-6.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,836

$0.31 Rp 5,581

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 Rp 100.5K

$6.29 Rp 112.8K

-10.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-1.28%

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

$23.6K Rp 422.0M

$20.6K Rp 368.8M

14.43%

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

$29.3K Rp 524.1M

$27.3K Rp 489.0M

7.18%

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

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$33.39 Rp 598.2K

115.75%

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

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

44.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.33 Rp 382.1K

$19.13 Rp 342.8K

11.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

$15.01 Rp 269.0K

358.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 Rp 81.2K

$5.08 Rp 90.9K

-10.83%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

$2.10 Rp 37.6K

37.62%

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

$232 Rp 4.2M

$33.54 Rp 600.8K

592.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,015 Rp 89.9M

$9,394 Rp 168.3M

-46.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.98 Rp 841.7K

$43.50 Rp 779.4K

8.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.75 Rp 586.7K

$30.80 Rp 551.8K

6.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

$58.8 Rp 1.1M

26.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$81.5 Rp 1.5M

-17.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 Rp 9.2M

$160 Rp 2.9M

222.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 Rp 6.3M

$49.11 Rp 879.9K

610.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 Rp 31.9M

$280 Rp 5.0M

534.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 Rp 19.4M

$92.6 Rp 1.7M

1069.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 Rp 26.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 Rp 5.8M

$201 Rp 3.6M

61.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

232.00%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026

Last update for Malang: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Denpasar, Bali and $160 in Malang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 61% 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: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $12.00 in Malang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $182 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 101% in total monthly costs ($950 vs $473 including rent). Malang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Denpasar, Bali pays 61% more on average, 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: $515 in Denpasar, Bali versus $160 in Malang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $473 in Malang – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Malang runs roughly 25% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $473 in Malang versus $950 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 101% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.