😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $940 in Denpasar, Bali versus $657 in Salatiga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,630 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,000 in Salatiga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,320 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,343 in Salatiga.
😐Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 43% more expensive than Salatiga, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali30% lower, Salatiga51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38Rp 41.3K
$0.96Rp 16.6K
147.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.86Rp 379.0K
$10.27Rp 177.9K
112.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 57.2K
$3.14Rp 54.5K
5.10%
Cappuccino
$1.90Rp 33.0K
$1.59Rp 27.5K
19.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Rp 15.4K
$0.35Rp 6,023
154.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,522
$0.23Rp 3,995
113.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95Rp 33.8K
$2.21Rp 38.3K
-11.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51Rp 43.6K
$3.95Rp 68.5K
-36.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41Rp 24.4K
$1.38Rp 24.0K
2.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04Rp 35.4K
$1.52Rp 26.3K
34.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96Rp 16.7K
$0.91Rp 15.7K
5.49%
Eggs
$2.00Rp 34.7K
$1.26Rp 21.8K
58.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70Rp 202.8K
$9.00Rp 156.0K
30.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43Rp 59.4K
$2.71Rp 47.0K
26.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.53Rp 165.2K
$8.35Rp 144.8K
14.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10Rp 53.8K
$2.37Rp 41.1K
30.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 21.8K
$1.51Rp 26.2K
-16.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29Rp 39.6K
$2.12Rp 36.7K
8.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.87Rp 32.4K
$1.49Rp 25.9K
25.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.0K
$1.39Rp 24.0K
16.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 30.9K
$1.78Rp 30.8K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81Rp 14.0K
$0.38Rp 6,604
113.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58Rp 9,999
$0.42Rp 7,282
38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64Rp 45.8K
$2.33Rp 40.4K
13.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.10Rp 331.1K
$25.76Rp 446.5K
-25.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32Rp 40.1K
$1.77Rp 30.6K
31.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26Rp 39.1K
$3.16Rp 54.8K
-28.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,527
$0.32Rp 5,606
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.43Rp 128.7K
$10.01Rp 173.6K
-25.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.40Rp 6,918
$0.48Rp 8,294
-16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41Rp 7,189
$0.31Rp 5,453
32.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.40Rp 93.6K
$2.73Rp 47.2K
97.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.2K
$0.69Rp 12.0K
10.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KRp 402.6M
$20.5KRp 354.7M
13.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KRp 492.9M
$35.5KRp 614.5M
-19.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$84.2Rp 1.5M
-13.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67Rp 63.7K
$4.31Rp 74.6K
-14.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.40Rp 370.9K
$19.87Rp 344.4K
7.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.5Rp 1.2M
$22.82Rp 395.6K
204.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.67Rp 80.9K
$5.99Rp 103.9K
-22.04%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81Rp 48.7K
$2.12Rp 36.8K
32.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.1M
$191Rp 3.3M
22.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,114Rp 88.6M
$9,480Rp 164.3M
-46.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.27Rp 801.9K
$42.61Rp 738.5K
8.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20Rp 558.1K
$12.36Rp 214.2K
160.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0Rp 1.3M
$50.0Rp 866.6K
47.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2Rp 1.2M
$82.4Rp 1.4M
-18.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512Rp 8.9M
$254Rp 4.4M
102.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344Rp 6.0M
$157Rp 2.7M
118.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,804Rp 31.3M
$588Rp 10.2M
206.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064Rp 18.4M
$333Rp 5.8M
219.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,591Rp 27.6M
$1,211Rp 21.0M
31.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,226Rp 21.2M
$745Rp 12.9M
64.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$293Rp 5.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
8.33
59.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: April 26, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Denpasar, Bali and $254 in Salatiga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $10.00 in Salatiga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $221 per month, with Salatiga 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 Salatiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga?
Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($940 vs $657 including rent). Salatiga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Denpasar, Bali compared to Salatiga?
You'd need roughly $1,411 in Denpasar, Bali and $986 in Salatiga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Denpasar, Bali versus $254 in Salatiga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Salatiga?
All in, you'll spend $940 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $657 in Salatiga – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga?
A monthly transit pass in Salatiga runs roughly 35% 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 $657 in Salatiga versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Salatiga but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Salatiga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga?
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 Salatiga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga 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 Salatiga?
Expats usually find Salatiga 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.
Denpasar, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared