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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Denpasar, Bali versus $662 in Padang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,681 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,023 in Padang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,404 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,384 in Padang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 45% more expensive than in Padang, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 28% lower, Padang 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.41 Rp 43.5K
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
58.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.01 Rp 397.4K
$12.14 Rp 219.2K
81.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.25 Rp 58.7K
$3.37 Rp 60.8K
-3.56%
Cappuccino
$1.80 Rp 32.5K
$1.67 Rp 30.1K
7.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.7K
$0.52 Rp 9,369
67.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,400
$0.28 Rp 5,080
67.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 Rp 35.2K
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-19.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 Rp 47.0K
$3.44 Rp 62.0K
-24.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
$1.21 Rp 21.9K
19.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 Rp 36.7K
$1.18 Rp 21.4K
72.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 Rp 16.4K
$0.89 Rp 16.1K
2.25%
Eggs
$1.97 Rp 35.5K
$1.58 Rp 28.5K
24.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 Rp 213.2K
$7.98 Rp 144.1K
47.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 Rp 61.7K
$3.08 Rp 55.5K
11.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.84 Rp 177.6K
$7.76 Rp 140.0K
26.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 Rp 55.8K
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
32.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
-12.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.9K
$1.79 Rp 32.4K
23.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.3K
$1.56 Rp 28.2K
21.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$1.32 Rp 23.8K
16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 33.8K
$1.97 Rp 35.5K
-5.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
$0.97 Rp 17.5K
-15.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 Rp 10.6K
$0.44 Rp 7,949
34.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 Rp 47.4K
$2.51 Rp 45.4K
4.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 Rp 335.3K
$17.61 Rp 317.9K
5.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
$2.12 Rp 38.3K
7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$3.12 Rp 56.4K
-28.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,720
$0.32 Rp 5,862
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.54 Rp 136.1K
$10.05 Rp 181.5K
-24.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,948
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
-22.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,497
$0.35 Rp 6,271
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 102.2K
$3.00 Rp 54.1K
88.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 13.1K
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
-1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 431.9M
$24.6K Rp 443.9M
-2.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K Rp 513.6M
$28.0K Rp 505.9M
1.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.0 Rp 1.3M
$70.5 Rp 1.3M
0.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.55 Rp 64.2K
$4.33 Rp 78.2K
-18.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.30 Rp 384.6K
$23.02 Rp 415.6K
-7.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.6 Rp 1.2M
$23.34 Rp 421.4K
189.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.47 Rp 80.8K
$6.33 Rp 114.2K
-29.38%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
$3.01 Rp 54.4K
-7.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 Rp 4.2M
$91.7 Rp 1.7M
155.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,006 Rp 90.4M
$7,675 Rp 138.6M
-34.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.68 Rp 842.7K
$41.38 Rp 747.1K
12.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.96 Rp 595.0K
$30.46 Rp 549.9K
8.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
10.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9 Rp 1.2M
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
-9.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$530 Rp 9.6M
$259 Rp 4.7M
105.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$347 Rp 6.3M
$161 Rp 2.9M
115.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,790 Rp 32.3M
$589 Rp 10.6M
203.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 Rp 19.8M
$336 Rp 6.1M
226.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,426 Rp 25.7M
$1,296 Rp 23.4M
9.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,171 Rp 21.1M
$593 Rp 10.7M
97.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 Rp 5.0M
$168 Rp 3.0M
66.11%
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 Padang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Denpasar, Bali and $259 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 66% 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 Padang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $201 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 45% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $662 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 66% 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: $530 in Denpasar, Bali versus $259 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Padang?
All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $662 in Padang – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Padang?
A monthly transit pass in Padang runs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $662 in Padang versus $959 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 45% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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