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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Denpasar, Bali versus $600 in Sibolga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali versus $943 in Sibolga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,285 in Sibolga.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 58% more expensive than Sibolga, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Sibolga 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

54.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 Rp 388.7K

$12.25 Rp 219.4K

77.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 Rp 58.0K

$3.34 Rp 59.8K

-3.29%

Cappuccino

$1.90 Rp 34.1K

$1.70 Rp 30.5K

11.76%

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

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

$0.55 Rp 9,781

70.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,337

$0.26 Rp 4,610

80.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

-34.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

$2.60 Rp 46.5K

-1.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

24.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$1.12 Rp 20.0K

77.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

6.52%

Eggs

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

25.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.75 Rp 210.4K

$7.94 Rp 142.2K

47.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 Rp 60.5K

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

45.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 Rp 176.0K

$9.04 Rp 162.0K

8.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

29.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

-10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

22.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$1.49 Rp 26.7K

21.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$0.71 Rp 12.7K

121.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 31.8K

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

16.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.91 Rp 16.3K

-12.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.33 Rp 5,840

90.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

44.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.61 Rp 333.4K

$18.67 Rp 334.5K

-0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$2.27 Rp 40.7K

-1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

3.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,288

$0.45 Rp 8,016

-46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.50 Rp 134.4K

$9.91 Rp 177.6K

-24.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 Rp 7,327

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-28.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,836

$0.38 Rp 6,764

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 Rp 100.5K

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

96.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

-24.51%

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

$23.6K Rp 422.0M

$24.5K Rp 439.2M

-3.93%

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

$29.3K Rp 524.1M

$27.6K Rp 495.0M

5.87%

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

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$26.42 Rp 473.3K

172.67%

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

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

$4.27 Rp 76.4K

-13.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.33 Rp 382.1K

$22.51 Rp 403.2K

-5.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

$23.14 Rp 414.5K

197.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 Rp 81.2K

$6.33 Rp 113.5K

-28.44%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

-7.96%

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

$232 Rp 4.2M

$24.08 Rp 431.5K

864.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,015 Rp 89.9M

$7,714 Rp 138.2M

-34.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.98 Rp 841.7K

$15.47 Rp 277.2K

203.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.75 Rp 586.7K

$18.47 Rp 330.9K

77.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

$65.7 Rp 1.2M

13.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$73.9 Rp 1.3M

-8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 Rp 9.2M

$261 Rp 4.7M

97.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 Rp 6.3M

$156 Rp 2.8M

124.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 Rp 31.9M

$593 Rp 10.6M

200.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 Rp 19.4M

$335 Rp 6.0M

222.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 Rp 26.0M

$1,315 Rp 23.6M

10.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

$764 Rp 13.7M

55.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 Rp 5.8M

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sibolga: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Denpasar, Bali and $261 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $12.00 in Sibolga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $196 per month, with Sibolga 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 Sibolga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Sibolga differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($950 vs $600 including rent). Sibolga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,425 in Denpasar, Bali and $901 in Sibolga 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Denpasar, Bali versus $261 in Sibolga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $600 in Sibolga – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sibolga runs roughly 32% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $600 in Sibolga versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sibolga but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sibolga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Sibolga 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 Sibolga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.