Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Kuta, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuta, Bali: $1,231 a month against $2,852 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,852
/mo nomad
Kuta, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,231
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Kuta, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Melbourne and in Kuta, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,852 per month in Melbourne vs $1,231 in Kuta, Bali, rent included.

  • Melbourne $2,852
  • Kuta, Bali $1,231

A couple spends around $4,297 per month in Melbourne vs $2,066 in Kuta, Bali, rent included.

  • Melbourne $4,297
  • Kuta, Bali $2,066

A family of three spends $5,742 per month in Melbourne vs $2,900 in Kuta, Bali, rent included.

  • Melbourne $5,742
  • Kuta, Bali $2,900

Melbourne costs about 132% more than Kuta, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Melbourne sits 113% above the global median, while Kuta, Bali is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 A$25.40
$2.89 Rp 51.7K
514.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8 A$121
$30.73 Rp 549.4K
176.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.16 A$17.40
$4.94 Rp 88.3K
146.15%
Cappuccino
$3.93 A$5.62
$2.38 Rp 42.5K
65.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 A$4.49
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
110.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 A$3.47
$0.69 Rp 12.3K
252.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.90 A$14.17
$2.37 Rp 42.3K
317.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.29 A$11.86
$3.91 Rp 69.9K
112.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 A$2.21
$1.47 Rp 26.2K
5.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.01 A$4.31
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
38.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 A$4.12
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
146.15%
Eggs
$5.44 A$7.79
$1.98 Rp 35.4K
174.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.59 A$15.16
$16.58 Rp 296.4K
-36.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 A$13.76
$3.63 Rp 64.9K
164.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.99 A$21.46
$11.49 Rp 205.4K
30.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 A$5.94
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 A$4.37
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
103.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 A$4.72
$2.17 Rp 38.7K
52.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 A$6.81
$1.89 Rp 33.8K
151.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 A$4.34
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
75.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.65
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
10.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 A$3.55
$0.99 Rp 17.7K
150.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.33
$0.47 Rp 8,359
246.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.1
$2.11 Rp 37.6K
1988.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.43 A$17.79
$21.20 Rp 379.0K
-41.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.33 A$7.63
$2.25 Rp 40.3K
136.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 A$7.38
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
80.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.84 A$5.50
$0.27 Rp 4,813
1322.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$142 A$203
$9.09 Rp 162.4K
1456.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.40 A$6.29
$0.49 Rp 8,847
797.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 A$2.01
$0.46 Rp 8,210
204.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.83 A$42.69
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
1000.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 A$2.09
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
56.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K A$40.3K
$26.2K Rp 468.7M
7.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K A$37.1K
$33.9K Rp 605.9M
-23.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 A$333
$81.4 Rp 1.5M
185.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.28 A$39.04
$6.62 Rp 118.4K
312.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0 A$81.6
$18.48 Rp 330.3K
208.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 A$75.4
$47.75 Rp 853.5K
10.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.62 A$32.37
$15.76 Rp 281.6K
43.53%
Cinema Ticket
$17.10 A$24.48
$3.87 Rp 69.1K
341.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,373 A$3,397
$443 Rp 7.9M
435.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K A$43.6K
$5,264 Rp 94.1M
478.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.2 A$112
$46.10 Rp 824.0K
69.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 A$72.2
$35.04 Rp 626.3K
44.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$172
$80.3 Rp 1.4M
50.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 A$191
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
67.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 A$2,451
$935 Rp 16.7M
83.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 A$2,006
$570 Rp 10.2M
145.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,339 A$4,778
$2,926 Rp 52.3M
14.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,529 A$3,619
$1,426 Rp 25.5M
77.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,018 A$10.0K
$2,256 Rp 40.3M
211.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,767 A$9,685
$1,861 Rp 33.3M
263.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Kuta, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,228 A$6,051
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
13.78
-57.18%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 6, 2026

Last update for Kuta, Bali: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Kuta, Bali
$570 59.3% $832
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$385
Kuta, Bali
$274 28.9% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Kuta, Bali
$107 66.4% $210
Eating Out
Melbourne
$314
Kuta, Bali
$95 69.8% $219
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Kuta, Bali
$108 37% $64
Getting Around
Melbourne
$168
Kuta, Bali
$13 92.3% $155
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$87
Kuta, Bali
$55 36.1% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,713 in Melbourne versus $935 in Kuta, 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 $85.0 in Melbourne versus $31.00 in Kuta, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $274 – making Kuta, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇮🇩 Kuta, Bali
🕒 Local time
21:16 9:16 PM
18:16 6:16 PM
3 h behind Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
57,304
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Melbourne Kuta, Bali 4,400 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Kuta, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Melbourne vs Kuta, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Melbourne or Kuta, Bali?
Melbourne costs about 132% more than Kuta, Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Melbourne and in Kuta, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,277 per month in Melbourne and $1,846 in Kuta, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Melbourne or Kuta, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Bali, 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 Melbourne and in Kuta, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Melbourne and $31.00 in Kuta, 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 Melbourne compared to Kuta, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,852 in Melbourne and $1,231 in Kuta, Bali. That's a gap of about 132%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Melbourne or in Kuta, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Melbourne at $2,852. In Kuta, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kuta, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Melbourne compared to Kuta, 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 Melbourne or to Kuta, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Kuta, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Melbourne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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