😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $909 in Denpasar, Bali versus $651 in Padang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,007 in Padang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,123 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,363 in Padang.
🌍Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 40% more expensive than in Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali34% lower, Padang52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$1.74Rp 30.9K
28.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.92Rp 423.6K
$12.43Rp 220.0K
92.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.76Rp 66.5K
$3.04Rp 53.7K
23.68%
Cappuccino
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$1.49Rp 26.4K
18.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24Rp 21.9K
$0.38Rp 6,734
226.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,131
$0.26Rp 4,533
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94Rp 34.4K
$2.71Rp 48.0K
-28.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93Rp 51.9K
$3.93Rp 69.6K
-25.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29Rp 22.9K
$1.17Rp 20.8K
10.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86Rp 32.9K
$0.95Rp 16.9K
95.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.1K
$0.92Rp 16.3K
-1.09%
Eggs
$1.76Rp 31.2K
$1.45Rp 25.6K
21.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.64Rp 259.2K
$6.29Rp 111.4K
132.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20Rp 56.6K
$2.60Rp 46.0K
23.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.81Rp 173.7K
$7.98Rp 141.3K
22.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04Rp 53.8K
$2.02Rp 35.7K
50.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.3K
$1.16Rp 20.5K
13.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.0K
$1.63Rp 28.9K
14.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.4K
$1.17Rp 20.7K
36.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53Rp 27.0K
$1.35Rp 23.8K
13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 34.3K
$1.93Rp 34.2K
0.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$0.83Rp 14.7K
-6.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,346
$0.44Rp 7,865
-6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88Rp 33.3K
$2.71Rp 48.0K
-30.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.97Rp 335.9K
$23.01Rp 407.4K
-17.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87Rp 33.1K
$2.00Rp 35.5K
-6.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50Rp 44.3K
$2.74Rp 48.5K
-8.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,267
$0.30Rp 5,325
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.36Rp 130.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,657
$0.51Rp 9,086
-15.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39Rp 6,963
$0.29Rp 5,191
34.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.06Rp 54.1K
$2.53Rp 44.8K
20.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73Rp 13.0K
$0.69Rp 12.1K
5.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KRp 399.3M
$22.8KRp 404.2M
-1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KRp 500.7M
$30.6KRp 542.5M
-7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$74.1Rp 1.3M
2.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.96Rp 105.5K
$4.30Rp 76.2K
38.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.71Rp 296.0K
$17.79Rp 315.1K
-6.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.78Rp 704.5K
$19.96Rp 353.4K
99.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21Rp 233.9K
$7.45Rp 132.0K
77.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 55.0K
$2.46Rp 43.5K
26.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$370Rp 6.6M
$99.6Rp 1.8M
271.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,428Rp 78.4M
$7,742Rp 137.1M
-42.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.11Rp 710.2K
$44.85Rp 794.2K
-10.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66Rp 542.9K
$29.67Rp 525.3K
3.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8Rp 1.3M
$73.7Rp 1.3M
-3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9Rp 1.2M
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-15.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585Rp 10.4M
$236Rp 4.2M
148.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358Rp 6.3M
$140Rp 2.5M
156.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,846Rp 32.7M
$513Rp 9.1M
260.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$922Rp 16.3M
$359Rp 6.4M
156.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,456Rp 25.8M
$1,358Rp 24.0M
7.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,214Rp 21.5M
$634Rp 11.2M
91.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$284Rp 5.0M
$170Rp 3.0M
67.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 12, 2026
Last update for Padang: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $585 in Denpasar, Bali and $236 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 67% 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: $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $12.00 in Padang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $194 per month, with Padang 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 Padang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Denpasar, Bali and in Padang?
Denpasar, Bali and Padang differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($909 vs $651 including rent). Padang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Denpasar, Bali or Padang?
Average pay runs 67% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Padang?
Rent for a central apartment: $585 in Denpasar, Bali versus $236 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Denpasar, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Padang?
All in, you'll spend $909 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $651 in Padang – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $651 in Padang versus $909 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Padang but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Padang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Denpasar, Bali and Padang?
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 Padang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Padang 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 Padang?
Expats usually find Padang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% 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