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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $652 in Surakarta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,001 in Surakarta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,351 in Surakarta.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 45% more expensive than in Surakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

52.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.21 Rp 381.2K

$12.42 Rp 223.2K

70.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 Rp 61.0K

$3.10 Rp 55.6K

9.35%

Cappuccino

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

$1.66 Rp 29.9K

12.65%

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

$0.86 Rp 15.5K

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

53.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,825

$0.27 Rp 4,890

81.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 Rp 36.3K

$1.79 Rp 32.2K

12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 Rp 45.7K

$2.98 Rp 53.6K

-14.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

18.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 Rp 37.2K

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

152.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 Rp 17.9K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

32.00%

Eggs

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

$1.23 Rp 22.2K

59.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 Rp 213.8K

$9.38 Rp 168.5K

26.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.9K

$2.87 Rp 51.6K

21.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 Rp 177.9K

$7.20 Rp 129.4K

37.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 56.1K

$2.30 Rp 41.4K

35.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.3K

$1.48 Rp 26.6K

-12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

3.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

$1.36 Rp 24.5K

34.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

$1.37 Rp 24.6K

13.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

$1.64 Rp 29.5K

12.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

32.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

$0.42 Rp 7,594

47.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 Rp 47.6K

$2.13 Rp 38.3K

24.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 Rp 330.6K

$8.32 Rp 149.5K

121.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 42.3K

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

27.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$3.25 Rp 58.5K

-31.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,703

$0.41 Rp 7,400

-36.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 133.2K

$9.85 Rp 177.0K

-24.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,871

$0.45 Rp 8,047

-2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,863

$0.31 Rp 5,636

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 Rp 97.6K

$2.77 Rp 49.8K

96.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-7.69%

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

$23.1K Rp 414.3M

$21.1K Rp 379.2M

9.25%

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

$28.6K Rp 513.4M

$35.7K Rp 641.9M

-20.02%

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

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$84.6 Rp 1.5M

-13.85%

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

$3.72 Rp 66.9K

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

63.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.15 Rp 380.1K

$19.55 Rp 351.3K

8.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

$19.94 Rp 358.3K

241.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 Rp 84.6K

$6.32 Rp 113.6K

-25.47%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 Rp 50.6K

$2.21 Rp 39.7K

27.15%

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

$233 Rp 4.2M

$36.42 Rp 654.5K

540.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 Rp 92.3M

$2,102 Rp 37.8M

144.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 Rp 832.9K

$61.0 Rp 1.1M

-23.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.50 Rp 584.0K

$38.66 Rp 694.8K

-15.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

-2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

$73.2 Rp 1.3M

-10.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.5M

$254 Rp 4.6M

108.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 Rp 6.4M

$161 Rp 2.9M

121.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 Rp 32.2M

$581 Rp 10.4M

208.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 Rp 19.6M

$328 Rp 5.9M

231.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 Rp 5.0M

$157 Rp 2.8M

76.42%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $254 in Surakarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 76% 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 Surakarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $176 per month, with Surakarta 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 Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Surakarta differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $652 including rent). Surakarta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 76% 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 $254 in Surakarta. 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 $652 in Surakarta – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surakarta runs roughly 33% 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 $1,200 a month, though Surakarta 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 Surakarta 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 Surakarta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.