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: $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, Bali 34% lower, Padang 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$1.74 Rp 30.9K
28.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.92 Rp 423.6K
$12.43 Rp 220.0K
92.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.76 Rp 66.5K
$3.04 Rp 53.7K
23.68%
Cappuccino
$1.77 Rp 31.4K
$1.49 Rp 26.4K
18.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 Rp 21.9K
$0.38 Rp 6,734
226.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,131
$0.26 Rp 4,533
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.94 Rp 34.4K
$2.71 Rp 48.0K
-28.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 Rp 51.9K
$3.93 Rp 69.6K
-25.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 Rp 22.9K
$1.17 Rp 20.8K
10.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 Rp 32.9K
$0.95 Rp 16.9K
95.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 Rp 16.1K
$0.92 Rp 16.3K
-1.09%
Eggs
$1.76 Rp 31.2K
$1.45 Rp 25.6K
21.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.64 Rp 259.2K
$6.29 Rp 111.4K
132.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 Rp 56.6K
$2.60 Rp 46.0K
23.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.81 Rp 173.7K
$7.98 Rp 141.3K
22.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 Rp 53.8K
$2.02 Rp 35.7K
50.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.3K
$1.16 Rp 20.5K
13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 33.0K
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
14.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 28.4K
$1.17 Rp 20.7K
36.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Rp 27.0K
$1.35 Rp 23.8K
13.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.3K
$1.93 Rp 34.2K
0.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.83 Rp 14.7K
-6.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,346
$0.44 Rp 7,865
-6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 Rp 33.3K
$2.71 Rp 48.0K
-30.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.97 Rp 335.9K
$23.01 Rp 407.4K
-17.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 Rp 33.1K
$2.00 Rp 35.5K
-6.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 Rp 44.3K
$2.74 Rp 48.5K
-8.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,267
$0.30 Rp 5,325
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.36 Rp 130.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 Rp 7,657
$0.51 Rp 9,086
-15.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 Rp 6,963
$0.29 Rp 5,191
34.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 Rp 54.1K
$2.53 Rp 44.8K
20.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.69 Rp 12.1K
5.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K Rp 399.3M
$22.8K Rp 404.2M
-1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K Rp 500.7M
$30.6K Rp 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)
$75.9 Rp 1.3M
$74.1 Rp 1.3M
2.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.96 Rp 105.5K
$4.30 Rp 76.2K
38.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.71 Rp 296.0K
$17.79 Rp 315.1K
-6.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.78 Rp 704.5K
$19.96 Rp 353.4K
99.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21 Rp 233.9K
$7.45 Rp 132.0K
77.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
$2.46 Rp 43.5K
26.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$370 Rp 6.6M
$99.6 Rp 1.8M
271.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,428 Rp 78.4M
$7,742 Rp 137.1M
-42.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.11 Rp 710.2K
$44.85 Rp 794.2K
-10.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66 Rp 542.9K
$29.67 Rp 525.3K
3.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 Rp 1.3M
$73.7 Rp 1.3M
-3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-15.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$585 Rp 10.4M
$236 Rp 4.2M
148.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 Rp 6.3M
$140 Rp 2.5M
156.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,846 Rp 32.7M
$513 Rp 9.1M
260.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 Rp 16.3M
$359 Rp 6.4M
156.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,456 Rp 25.8M
$1,358 Rp 24.0M
7.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,214 Rp 21.5M
$634 Rp 11.2M
91.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$284 Rp 5.0M
$170 Rp 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.

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