😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Denpasar, Bali versus $671 in Salatiga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,681 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,026 in Salatiga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,404 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,382 in Salatiga.
🌍Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 43% more expensive than in Salatiga, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali28% lower, Salatiga50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.41Rp 43.5K
$0.94Rp 17.0K
156.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.01Rp 397.4K
$9.94Rp 179.4K
121.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 58.7K
$3.06Rp 55.2K
6.21%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.5K
$1.51Rp 27.3K
19.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$0.37Rp 6,698
135.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,400
$0.23Rp 4,169
104.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95Rp 35.2K
$2.09Rp 37.7K
-6.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60Rp 47.0K
$3.89Rp 70.2K
-33.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 26.0K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03Rp 36.7K
$1.50Rp 27.0K
35.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.4K
$0.95Rp 17.2K
-4.21%
Eggs
$1.97Rp 35.5K
$1.33Rp 23.9K
48.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81Rp 213.2K
$9.49Rp 171.3K
24.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42Rp 61.7K
$2.73Rp 49.3K
25.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84Rp 177.6K
$8.41Rp 151.9K
17.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09Rp 55.8K
$2.37Rp 42.7K
30.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31Rp 23.7K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
-15.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.9K
$2.20Rp 39.7K
0.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 34.3K
$1.43Rp 25.8K
32.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.8K
$1.32Rp 23.9K
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.8K
$1.72Rp 31.1K
8.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$0.36Rp 6,484
127.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.6K
$0.40Rp 7,166
47.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63Rp 47.4K
$2.31Rp 41.7K
13.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57Rp 335.3K
$25.15Rp 454.0K
-26.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27Rp 40.9K
$1.85Rp 33.3K
22.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23Rp 40.2K
$3.22Rp 58.1K
-30.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,720
$0.30Rp 5,371
-13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.54Rp 136.1K
$10.01Rp 180.6K
-24.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,948
$0.44Rp 8,007
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,497
$0.31Rp 5,650
35.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66Rp 102.2K
$2.79Rp 50.4K
102.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72Rp 13.1K
$0.71Rp 12.9K
1.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9KRp 431.9M
$21.1KRp 381.2M
13.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KRp 513.6M
$34.5KRp 623.1M
-17.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.0Rp 1.3M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-14.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.55Rp 64.2K
$4.16Rp 75.2K
-14.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.30Rp 384.6K
$19.21Rp 346.7K
10.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.6Rp 1.2M
$22.73Rp 410.4K
197.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.47Rp 80.8K
$6.30Rp 113.7K
-29.05%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79Rp 50.4K
$2.10Rp 37.8K
32.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.2M
$189Rp 3.4M
23.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,006Rp 90.4M
$9,453Rp 170.7M
-47.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.68Rp 842.7K
$43.81Rp 790.8K
6.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.96Rp 595.0K
$12.44Rp 224.6K
164.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0Rp 1.4M
$49.71Rp 897.5K
50.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9Rp 1.2M
$84.0Rp 1.5M
-21.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530Rp 9.6M
$259Rp 4.7M
104.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347Rp 6.3M
$155Rp 2.8M
123.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,790Rp 32.3M
$593Rp 10.7M
201.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096Rp 19.8M
$331Rp 6.0M
231.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,426Rp 25.7M
$1,192Rp 21.5M
19.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,171Rp 21.1M
$717Rp 12.9M
63.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279Rp 5.0M
-
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Denpasar, Bali and $259 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 in Salatiga?
Denpasar, Bali and Salatiga differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $671 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 $1,438 in Denpasar, Bali and $1,007 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 in Salatiga?
Rent for a central apartment: $530 in Denpasar, Bali versus $259 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 $959 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $671 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 in Salatiga?
A monthly transit pass in Salatiga 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 $671 in Salatiga versus $959 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