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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $644 in Semarang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,036 in Semarang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,429 in Semarang.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 46% more expensive than in Semarang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Semarang 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

32.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.21 Rp 380.5K

$12.50 Rp 224.2K

69.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 Rp 60.9K

$3.64 Rp 65.3K

-6.87%

Cappuccino

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

28.08%

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

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.48 Rp 8,687

79.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,810

$0.27 Rp 4,820

81.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 Rp 36.2K

$2.01 Rp 36.1K

0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 Rp 45.6K

$2.89 Rp 51.8K

-12.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

32.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 Rp 37.1K

$1.00 Rp 17.9K

107.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

$0.86 Rp 15.3K

15.12%

Eggs

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

$1.59 Rp 28.5K

23.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 Rp 213.4K

$6.13 Rp 109.9K

94.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.8K

$2.82 Rp 50.6K

24.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 Rp 177.6K

$8.48 Rp 152.1K

16.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 56.0K

$2.60 Rp 46.6K

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

-19.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

16.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

$1.23 Rp 22.1K

26.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

-0.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

-5.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

$0.40 Rp 7,256

55.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

$2.29 Rp 41.1K

15.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 Rp 330.0K

$13.53 Rp 242.6K

35.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

-8.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$2.83 Rp 50.7K

-20.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,695

$0.26 Rp 4,702

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 133.0K

$12.96 Rp 232.5K

-42.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,857

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

-49.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,851

$0.31 Rp 5,562

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 Rp 97.4K

$2.87 Rp 51.4K

89.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

-10.00%

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

$23.1K Rp 413.5M

$24.8K Rp 444.6M

-6.98%

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

$28.6K Rp 512.5M

$30.4K Rp 545.5M

-6.05%

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

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$92.7 Rp 1.7M

-21.39%

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

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

35.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.15 Rp 379.4K

$23.45 Rp 420.7K

-9.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

$23.69 Rp 424.9K

187.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 Rp 84.4K

$5.24 Rp 93.9K

-10.11%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 Rp 50.5K

$3.05 Rp 54.7K

-7.87%

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

$233 Rp 4.2M

$44.58 Rp 799.6K

422.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 Rp 92.1M

$2,388 Rp 42.8M

115.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 Rp 831.4K

$36.26 Rp 650.5K

27.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.50 Rp 583.0K

$32.31 Rp 579.6K

0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

$67.1 Rp 1.2M

12.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

$43.45 Rp 779.4K

50.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.5M

$255 Rp 4.6M

107.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 Rp 6.4M

$152 Rp 2.7M

133.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 Rp 32.1M

$544 Rp 9.8M

229.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

$419 Rp 7.5M

160.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

$1,179 Rp 21.2M

19.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

$545 Rp 9.8M

113.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 Rp 5.0M

$189 Rp 3.4M

47.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.83

69.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Last update for Semarang: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $255 in Semarang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 47% 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: $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $12.00 in Semarang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $188 per month, with Semarang 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 Semarang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Semarang differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $644 including rent). Semarang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 47% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $255 in Semarang. 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 $644 in Semarang – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Semarang runs roughly 75% 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 Semarang 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 Semarang 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 Semarang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.