Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and BaliCost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Bali
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $466 per month in Malang vs $1,278 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $739 per month in Malang vs $2,318 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,013 per month in Malang vs $3,357 in Bali, rent included.
🙂Malang is about 64% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malang and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Malang65% lower, Bali5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26Rp 21.7K
$2.88Rp 49.7K
-56.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.23Rp 211.2K
$27.30Rp 471.5K
-55.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.09Rp 53.4K
$4.17Rp 72.0K
-25.90%
Cappuccino
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$2.38Rp 41.0K
-38.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 10.7K
$1.10Rp 19.0K
-43.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,784
$0.61Rp 10.6K
-63.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.5K
$2.48Rp 42.8K
-2.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99Rp 51.7K
$3.17Rp 54.7K
-5.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$1.67Rp 28.8K
-32.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45Rp 25.0K
$2.41Rp 41.7K
-39.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 14.9K
$1.14Rp 19.7K
-23.68%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 25.8K
$2.26Rp 39.1K
-34.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.40Rp 110.5K
$13.83Rp 238.8K
-53.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.36Rp 58.1K
$4.14Rp 71.4K
-18.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.26Rp 125.4K
$11.53Rp 199.0K
-37.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 39.6K
$3.47Rp 59.9K
-34.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 25.9K
$1.48Rp 25.6K
1.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73Rp 29.9K
$2.68Rp 46.3K
-35.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 25.5K
$2.11Rp 36.5K
-29.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.1K
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-29.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.2K
$2.12Rp 36.5K
-14.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55Rp 9,492
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-45.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,661
$0.69Rp 11.9K
-36.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56Rp 44.2K
$3.15Rp 54.4K
-18.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.97Rp 224.0K
$22.59Rp 390.0K
-42.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79Rp 30.9K
$2.64Rp 45.5K
-32.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33Rp 57.4K
$2.59Rp 44.8K
28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62Rp 10.8K
$0.29Rp 5,053
113.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.15Rp 106.3K
$8.17Rp 141.0K
-24.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,182
$0.48Rp 8,304
-2.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,390
$0.43Rp 7,398
-27.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.09Rp 105.1K
$6.25Rp 108.0K
-2.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.3K
$0.87Rp 15.0K
-4.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 355.7M
$26.0KRp 448.2M
-20.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRp 470.9M
$32.8KRp 565.6M
-16.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.15Rp 589.7K
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-56.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.55Rp 44.0K
$4.05Rp 69.9K
-37.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.25Rp 332.4K
$24.32Rp 420.0K
-20.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.69Rp 253.7K
$82.5Rp 1.4M
-82.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06Rp 87.4K
$5.47Rp 94.5K
-7.50%
Cinema Ticket
$2.20Rp 38.0K
$3.47Rp 59.9K
-36.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$33.37Rp 576.1K
$269Rp 4.6M
-87.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,438Rp 163.0M
$5,944Rp 102.6M
58.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.85Rp 739.9K
$51.7Rp 893.2K
-17.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27Rp 522.6K
$36.29Rp 626.6K
-16.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.5Rp 1.0M
$84.4Rp 1.5M
-29.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$74.5Rp 1.3M
9.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.8M
$856Rp 14.8M
-81.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$48.52Rp 837.7K
$573Rp 9.9M
-91.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281Rp 4.9M
$2,908Rp 50.2M
-90.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.6Rp 1.6M
$1,824Rp 31.5M
-94.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,664Rp 46.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,077Rp 35.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$209Rp 3.6M
$219Rp 3.8M
-4.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
13.28
-69.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malang: April 26, 2026
Last update for Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Malang versus $856 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 5% 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: $184 vs $284 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Malang or Bali?
Bali costs about 175% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Malang vs Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $698 per month in Malang and $1,917 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malang or Bali?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Malang vs Bali?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Malang compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $466 in Malang and $1,278 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Malang or Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Bali at $1,278. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Malang or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $466 versus $1,278 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Malang compared to Bali?
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.
Should I move to Malang or Bali?
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.