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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $466 per month in Malang vs $1,736 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $739 per month in Malang vs $3,152 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,013 per month in Malang vs $4,568 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Malang is about 73% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malang sits 65% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26 Rp 21.7K
$4.33 Rp 74.7K
-70.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.23 Rp 211.2K
$38.42 Rp 663.4K
-68.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.09 Rp 53.4K
$6.11 Rp 105.6K
-49.43%
Cappuccino
$1.46 Rp 25.2K
$3.45 Rp 59.5K
-57.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 Rp 10.7K
$1.67 Rp 28.9K
-62.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 Rp 3,784
$0.88 Rp 15.2K
-75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 Rp 41.5K
$3.54 Rp 61.1K
-31.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 Rp 51.7K
$4.59 Rp 79.3K
-34.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Rp 19.4K
$1.80 Rp 31.0K
-37.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 Rp 25.0K
$2.57 Rp 44.3K
-43.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 14.9K
$1.25 Rp 21.6K
-30.40%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 25.8K
$2.53 Rp 43.7K
-41.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.40 Rp 110.5K
$15.00 Rp 258.9K
-57.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.36 Rp 58.1K
$4.55 Rp 78.6K
-26.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.26 Rp 125.4K
$12.59 Rp 217.4K
-42.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 39.6K
$3.94 Rp 68.0K
-41.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 25.9K
$1.64 Rp 28.4K
-8.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 29.9K
$2.83 Rp 48.9K
-38.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 25.5K
$2.46 Rp 42.5K
-39.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$2.10 Rp 36.3K
-36.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 31.2K
$2.40 Rp 41.5K
-24.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 Rp 9,492
$1.06 Rp 18.4K
-48.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 7,661
$0.81 Rp 13.9K
-45.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 Rp 44.2K
$3.41 Rp 58.9K
-24.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.97 Rp 224.0K
$24.50 Rp 423.1K
-47.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 Rp 30.9K
$3.02 Rp 52.2K
-40.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 Rp 57.4K
$2.90 Rp 50.1K
14.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 Rp 10.8K
$0.37 Rp 6,306
67.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.15 Rp 106.3K
$10.50 Rp 181.3K
-41.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,182
$0.61 Rp 10.5K
-22.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,390
$0.53 Rp 9,179
-41.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.09 Rp 105.1K
$7.47 Rp 129.0K
-18.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.3K
$1.02 Rp 17.6K
-18.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K Rp 355.7M
$32.5K Rp 561.7M
-36.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K Rp 470.9M
$40.8K Rp 704.2M
-33.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.15 Rp 589.7K
$88.8 Rp 1.5M
-61.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.55 Rp 44.0K
$4.30 Rp 74.3K
-40.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.25 Rp 332.4K
$26.71 Rp 461.2K
-27.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.69 Rp 253.7K
$114 Rp 2.0M
-87.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 Rp 87.4K
$7.54 Rp 130.2K
-32.89%
Cinema Ticket
$2.20 Rp 38.0K
$4.82 Rp 83.3K
-54.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$33.37 Rp 576.1K
$336 Rp 5.8M
-90.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,438 Rp 163.0M
$7,640 Rp 131.9M
23.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.85 Rp 739.9K
$60.6 Rp 1.0M
-29.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27 Rp 522.6K
$42.13 Rp 727.5K
-28.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.5 Rp 1.0M
$96.7 Rp 1.7M
-38.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$84.2 Rp 1.5M
-3.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.8M
$1,345 Rp 23.2M
-88.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$48.52 Rp 837.7K
$890 Rp 15.4M
-94.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 Rp 4.9M
$4,556 Rp 78.7M
-93.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.6 Rp 1.6M
$2,822 Rp 48.7M
-96.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,025 Rp 69.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,190 Rp 55.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$209 Rp 3.6M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Malang versus $1,345 in Uluwatu, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Malang versus $38.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $312 – 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Malang?
Yes – Uluwatu, Bali is pricier by about 273%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $698 per month in Malang and $2,604 in Uluwatu, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 71% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $33.37 per month in Malang and $336 in Uluwatu, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Malang or Uluwatu, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,736. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Malang or Uluwatu, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Malang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Malang or Uluwatu, 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Malang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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