🙂A single person spends $464 per month in Malang vs $1,730 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $746 per month in Malang vs $3,196 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,028 per month in Malang vs $4,662 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
$1.19Rp 21.6K
$4.25Rp 76.7K
-72.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.32Rp 222.4K
$38.65Rp 697.8K
-68.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.11Rp 56.2K
$6.13Rp 110.8K
-49.27%
Cappuccino
$1.40Rp 25.2K
$3.43Rp 62.0K
-59.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 11.3K
$1.63Rp 29.4K
-61.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,956
$0.90Rp 16.3K
-75.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 43.5K
$3.66Rp 66.0K
-34.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11Rp 56.1K
$4.73Rp 85.5K
-34.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.5K
$1.83Rp 33.1K
-38.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$2.56Rp 46.2K
-40.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 15.2K
$1.20Rp 21.7K
-30.00%
Eggs
$1.47Rp 26.5K
$2.58Rp 46.6K
-43.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.39Rp 115.3K
$15.55Rp 280.7K
-58.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25Rp 58.6K
$4.37Rp 79.0K
-25.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.19Rp 129.9K
$12.55Rp 226.6K
-42.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 41.6K
$4.02Rp 72.7K
-42.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.8K
$1.68Rp 30.3K
-11.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.9K
$2.94Rp 53.1K
-39.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45Rp 26.1K
$2.46Rp 44.4K
-41.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 24.1K
$2.03Rp 36.6K
-34.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.4K
$2.30Rp 41.5K
-21.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55Rp 9,968
$1.07Rp 19.3K
-48.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,987
$0.82Rp 14.8K
-46.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56Rp 46.1K
$3.41Rp 61.6K
-24.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.53Rp 226.2K
$24.26Rp 437.9K
-48.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80Rp 32.5K
$3.00Rp 54.1K
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.5K
$3.02Rp 54.5K
9.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 11.4K
$0.33Rp 6,043
90.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.97Rp 107.9K
$10.49Rp 189.4K
-43.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,070
$0.60Rp 10.9K
-25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,203
$0.53Rp 9,634
-45.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.5K
$7.86Rp 141.9K
-22.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 14.0K
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-25.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 383.2M
$32.5KRp 586.0M
-34.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRp 492.9M
$40.6KRp 733.6M
-32.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.52Rp 605.1K
$88.5Rp 1.6M
-62.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.55Rp 46.1K
$4.53Rp 81.8K
-43.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.55Rp 352.9K
$26.81Rp 484.0K
-27.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.71Rp 265.6K
$113Rp 2.0M
-86.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.95Rp 89.3K
$7.55Rp 136.2K
-34.44%
Cinema Ticket
$2.18Rp 39.4K
$4.70Rp 84.9K
-53.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$33.90Rp 612.1K
$339Rp 6.1M
-90.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,427Rp 170.2M
$7,643Rp 138.0M
23.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.41Rp 765.6K
$59.9Rp 1.1M
-29.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.26Rp 564.3K
$41.74Rp 753.6K
-25.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1Rp 1.1M
$95.2Rp 1.7M
-36.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.5Rp 1.5M
$85.9Rp 1.6M
-2.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$1,328Rp 24.0M
-87.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.08Rp 886.0K
$901Rp 16.3M
-94.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275Rp 5.0M
$4,527Rp 81.7M
-93.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$93.2Rp 1.7M
$2,827Rp 51.0M
-96.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,685Rp 66.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,998Rp 54.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$196Rp 3.5M
-
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Malang versus $1,328 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 $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $314 – 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 $696 per month in Malang and $2,595 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 76% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $33.90 per month in Malang and $339 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 living in Malang or in Uluwatu, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $464, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,730. 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.