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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $473 in Malang versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Malang versus $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,012 in Malang versus $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Malang costs roughly 50% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malang 65% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

-48.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.17 Rp 218.1K

$21.69 Rp 388.7K

-43.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

$3.23 Rp 58.0K

-3.10%

Cappuccino

$1.47 Rp 26.4K

$1.90 Rp 34.1K

-22.63%

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

$0.62 Rp 11.0K

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

-34.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 Rp 4,320

$0.47 Rp 8,337

-48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 Rp 45.3K

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

27.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 Rp 55.9K

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

21.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

-21.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

-24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.5K

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

-17.35%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

-23.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 Rp 112.7K

$11.75 Rp 210.4K

-46.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.0K

$3.38 Rp 60.5K

-4.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 Rp 130.1K

$9.83 Rp 176.0K

-26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.5K

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

-23.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 Rp 30.0K

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

-20.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

-12.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

$1.78 Rp 31.8K

-2.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 Rp 9,221

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

-36.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,023

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

-6.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 Rp 223.6K

$18.61 Rp 333.4K

-32.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-20.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

36.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$0.24 Rp 4,288

141.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.99 Rp 107.4K

$7.50 Rp 134.4K

-20.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,878

$0.41 Rp 7,327

7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,581

$0.38 Rp 6,836

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.29 Rp 112.8K

$5.61 Rp 100.5K

12.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

1.30%

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

$20.6K Rp 368.8M

$23.6K Rp 422.0M

-12.61%

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

$27.3K Rp 489.0M

$29.3K Rp 524.1M

-6.70%

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

$33.39 Rp 598.2K

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

-53.65%

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

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

-30.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.13 Rp 342.8K

$21.33 Rp 382.1K

-10.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.01 Rp 269.0K

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

-78.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.08 Rp 90.9K

$4.53 Rp 81.2K

12.14%

Cinema Ticket

$2.10 Rp 37.6K

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

-27.34%

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

$33.54 Rp 600.8K

$232 Rp 4.2M

-85.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,394 Rp 168.3M

$5,015 Rp 89.9M

87.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.50 Rp 779.4K

$46.98 Rp 841.7K

-7.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.80 Rp 551.8K

$32.75 Rp 586.7K

-5.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 Rp 1.1M

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

-21.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 Rp 1.5M

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

21.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.9M

$515 Rp 9.2M

-69.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.11 Rp 879.9K

$349 Rp 6.3M

-85.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 Rp 5.0M

$1,780 Rp 31.9M

-84.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 Rp 1.7M

$1,083 Rp 19.4M

-91.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 Rp 26.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$201 Rp 3.6M

$325 Rp 5.8M

-38.05%

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 Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Malang and $515 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 61% 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: $12.00 in Malang vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $241 per month, with Malang 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

Malang vs Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malang and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($473 vs $950 including rent). Malang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 61% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $160 in Malang versus $515 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $473 per month in Malang versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Malang runs roughly 25% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $473 in Malang versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malang but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Malang 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, Malang and Denpasar, Bali 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 Malang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.