Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $473 per month in Malang vs $1,295 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $742 per month in Malang vs $2,292 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,012 per month in Malang vs $3,289 in Bali, rent included.

Malang is about 63% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malang and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Malang 65% lower, Bali 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

$2.90 Rp 51.9K

-58.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.17 Rp 218.1K

$27.50 Rp 492.7K

-55.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

$4.08 Rp 73.1K

-23.28%

Cappuccino

$1.47 Rp 26.4K

$2.35 Rp 42.0K

-37.45%

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

$0.62 Rp 11.0K

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

-43.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 Rp 4,320

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

-58.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 Rp 45.3K

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

5.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 Rp 55.9K

$3.20 Rp 57.3K

-2.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

-31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-35.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.5K

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

-29.57%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

$2.34 Rp 42.0K

-35.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 Rp 112.7K

$13.86 Rp 248.3K

-54.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.0K

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

-18.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 Rp 130.1K

$11.52 Rp 206.4K

-36.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.5K

$3.50 Rp 62.6K

-34.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 Rp 30.0K

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

-34.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-35.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

-25.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-21.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 Rp 9,221

$1.02 Rp 18.2K

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,023

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

$3.11 Rp 55.8K

-22.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 Rp 223.6K

$21.97 Rp 393.6K

-43.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

$2.76 Rp 49.5K

-35.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

$2.70 Rp 48.3K

17.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$0.27 Rp 4,779

114.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.99 Rp 107.4K

$8.17 Rp 146.5K

-26.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,878

$0.46 Rp 8,235

-4.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,581

$0.46 Rp 8,225

-32.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.29 Rp 112.8K

$6.22 Rp 111.5K

1.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

-8.24%

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

$20.6K Rp 368.8M

$25.9K Rp 463.4M

-20.43%

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

$27.3K Rp 489.0M

$32.6K Rp 584.2M

-16.30%

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

$33.39 Rp 598.2K

$80.0 Rp 1.4M

-58.25%

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

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

$4.00 Rp 71.7K

-36.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 Rp 342.8K

$23.97 Rp 429.5K

-20.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.01 Rp 269.0K

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

-81.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.08 Rp 90.9K

$5.33 Rp 95.5K

-4.69%

Cinema Ticket

$2.10 Rp 37.6K

$3.32 Rp 59.5K

-36.75%

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

$33.54 Rp 600.8K

$273 Rp 4.9M

-87.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,394 Rp 168.3M

$6,093 Rp 109.2M

54.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.50 Rp 779.4K

$51.5 Rp 922.7K

-15.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.80 Rp 551.8K

$36.05 Rp 645.9K

-14.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 Rp 1.1M

$82.6 Rp 1.5M

-28.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 Rp 1.5M

$72.6 Rp 1.3M

12.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.9M

$882 Rp 15.8M

-81.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.11 Rp 879.9K

$583 Rp 10.4M

-91.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 Rp 5.0M

$2,917 Rp 52.3M

-90.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 Rp 1.7M

$1,819 Rp 32.6M

-94.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 Rp 43.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,929 Rp 34.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$201 Rp 3.6M

$220 Rp 3.9M

-8.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-69.88%

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

Last update for Malang: June 9, 2026

Last update for Bali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Malang versus $882 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Malang versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $283 – making Malang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Malang vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 174% more than Malang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Malang and $1,943 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Malang and $27.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $473 in Malang and $1,295 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Bali at $1,295. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $473 versus $1,295 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Malang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.