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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $661 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,043 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,426 in Palembang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 43% more expensive than in Palembang, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Palembang 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

98.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.21 Rp 380.5K

$17.90 Rp 321.1K

18.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 Rp 60.9K

$3.05 Rp 54.7K

11.15%

Cappuccino

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

$1.40 Rp 25.2K

33.57%

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

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.90 Rp 16.2K

-4.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,810

$0.26 Rp 4,653

88.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 Rp 36.2K

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 Rp 45.6K

$3.75 Rp 67.2K

-32.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$1.31 Rp 23.5K

8.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 Rp 37.1K

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

88.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-28.26%

Eggs

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

54.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 Rp 213.4K

$7.96 Rp 142.9K

49.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.8K

$3.14 Rp 56.3K

11.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 Rp 177.6K

$8.48 Rp 152.2K

16.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 56.0K

$2.30 Rp 41.3K

35.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

-11.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$1.85 Rp 33.3K

23.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

16.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

$1.37 Rp 24.5K

13.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

-6.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

-15.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

$0.50 Rp 9,028

24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

$2.42 Rp 43.5K

9.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 Rp 330.0K

$20.22 Rp 362.7K

-9.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$2.05 Rp 36.8K

14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$3.23 Rp 57.9K

-30.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,695

$0.48 Rp 8,661

-45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 133.0K

$9.59 Rp 172.1K

-22.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,857

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-22.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,851

$0.34 Rp 6,143

11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 Rp 97.4K

$2.84 Rp 50.9K

91.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

-5.26%

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

$23.1K Rp 413.5M

$24.8K Rp 445.6M

-7.20%

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

$28.6K Rp 512.5M

$28.1K Rp 503.8M

1.72%

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

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$70.2 Rp 1.3M

3.86%

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

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$4.18 Rp 74.9K

-11.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.15 Rp 379.4K

$23.42 Rp 420.1K

-9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

$22.79 Rp 408.7K

199.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 Rp 84.4K

$6.02 Rp 108.0K

-21.76%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 Rp 50.5K

$2.98 Rp 53.5K

-5.70%

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

$233 Rp 4.2M

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

147.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 Rp 92.1M

$7,485 Rp 134.3M

-31.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 Rp 831.4K

$41.82 Rp 750.1K

10.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.50 Rp 583.0K

$30.61 Rp 549.1K

6.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

14.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

-10.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.5M

$262 Rp 4.7M

101.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 Rp 6.4M

$158 Rp 2.8M

124.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 Rp 32.1M

$593 Rp 10.6M

202.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

$328 Rp 5.9M

232.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

$976 Rp 17.5M

44.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

$601 Rp 10.8M

93.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 Rp 5.0M

$300 Rp 5.4M

-7.57%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Palembang: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $262 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $18.00 in Palembang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $210 per month, with Palembang 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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Palembang differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $661 including rent). Palembang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Palembang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $262 in Palembang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $942 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $661 in Palembang – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 29% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Palembang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Palembang 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 Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.