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 $476 per month in Malang vs $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $743 per month in Malang vs $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,010 per month in Malang vs $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Malang is about 72% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Malang sits 65% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.12 Rp 19.8K
$4.11 Rp 72.8K
-72.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.32 Rp 200.4K
$43.57 Rp 771.5K
-74.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.88 Rp 50.9K
$6.64 Rp 117.6K
-56.63%
Cappuccino
$1.29 Rp 22.9K
$3.38 Rp 59.8K
-61.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 Rp 10.6K
$2.19 Rp 38.8K
-72.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 Rp 3,885
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-78.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
$3.56 Rp 63.1K
-35.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 Rp 73.1K
$5.43 Rp 96.1K
-23.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$1.66 Rp 29.4K
-39.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 Rp 19.4K
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
-55.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
-33.88%
Eggs
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
$2.29 Rp 40.6K
-44.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.04 Rp 107.0K
$18.21 Rp 322.4K
-66.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.11 Rp 55.1K
$4.21 Rp 74.5K
-26.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.25 Rp 128.5K
$13.07 Rp 231.4K
-44.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 Rp 36.1K
$3.91 Rp 69.3K
-47.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 22.8K
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
-20.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
$2.47 Rp 43.8K
-37.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.5K
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
-27.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-33.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$2.59 Rp 45.8K
-26.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 Rp 8,976
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
-51.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,221
$0.56 Rp 9,996
-26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75 Rp 48.7K
$2.41 Rp 42.6K
14.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.54 Rp 222.1K
$24.21 Rp 428.6K
-48.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 Rp 31.2K
$2.50 Rp 44.2K
-29.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 Rp 52.4K
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
-4.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 Rp 10.7K
$0.31 Rp 5,577
93.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.58 Rp 98.8K
$10.28 Rp 181.9K
-45.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,540
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
-15.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 Rp 6,837
$0.58 Rp 10.2K
-32.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 Rp 100.7K
$2.69 Rp 47.5K
111.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.69 Rp 12.1K
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-31.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 456.7M
$30.3K Rp 536.2M
-14.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K Rp 497.3M
$39.3K Rp 696.4M
-28.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.73 Rp 561.8K
$89.9 Rp 1.6M
-64.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.46 Rp 43.5K
$7.40 Rp 131.0K
-66.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.00 Rp 354.2K
$20.52 Rp 363.4K
-2.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.87 Rp 263.3K
$65.8 Rp 1.2M
-77.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.71 Rp 83.4K
$21.34 Rp 377.8K
-77.93%
Cinema Ticket
$1.97 Rp 34.8K
$5.21 Rp 92.3K
-62.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$31.19 Rp 552.3K
$544 Rp 9.6M
-94.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,663 Rp 171.1M
$6,707 Rp 118.8M
44.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6 Rp 1.0M
$51.1 Rp 904.7K
10.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.07 Rp 408.5K
$39.15 Rp 693.2K
-41.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.6 Rp 914.4K
$89.5 Rp 1.6M
-42.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.37 Rp 644.0K
$87.8 Rp 1.6M
-58.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$140 Rp 2.5M
$1,556 Rp 27.6M
-91.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.0 Rp 1.6M
$924 Rp 16.4M
-90.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 Rp 3.5M
$4,848 Rp 85.8M
-95.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.7M
$2,307 Rp 40.9M
-93.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,720 Rp 65.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,051 Rp 54.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$208 Rp 3.7M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
13.78
-70.97%

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

Last update for Malang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Malang versus $1,556 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 $11.00 in Malang versus $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $309 – 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 254%, 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 $713 per month in Malang and $2,528 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 84% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $31.19 per month in Malang and $544 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 $476, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,685. 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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