Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $637 per month in Palembang vs $1,266 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $997 per month in Palembang vs $2,141 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,357 per month in Palembang vs $3,016 in Bali, rent included.

Palembang is about 50% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Palembang and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Palembang 54% lower, Bali 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$2.91 Rp 51.5K

-61.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.40 Rp 290.6K

$31.94 Rp 566.1K

-48.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 Rp 51.0K

$4.50 Rp 79.7K

-36.00%

Cappuccino

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$2.29 Rp 40.5K

-43.23%

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

$0.89 Rp 15.8K

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

-35.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 Rp 4,318

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 Rp 29.7K

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

-23.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 Rp 61.5K

$3.61 Rp 63.9K

-3.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 Rp 19.4K

$1.54 Rp 27.2K

-29.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$2.19 Rp 38.7K

-47.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

-19.44%

Eggs

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$2.01 Rp 35.6K

-35.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.45 Rp 132.0K

$16.91 Rp 299.6K

-55.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$3.76 Rp 66.6K

-22.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 Rp 140.7K

$11.82 Rp 209.5K

-32.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.2K

$3.39 Rp 60.1K

-33.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 Rp 24.8K

$1.47 Rp 26.1K

-4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.0K

$2.17 Rp 38.4K

-9.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

$1.84 Rp 32.7K

-26.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$1.77 Rp 31.3K

-36.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

-24.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.99 Rp 17.5K

-21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,779

$0.49 Rp 8,689

-10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$2.13 Rp 37.8K

7.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.86 Rp 369.7K

$22.73 Rp 402.7K

-8.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 Rp 32.9K

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

-18.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 Rp 54.0K

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

14.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 Rp 7,096

$0.25 Rp 4,394

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.56 Rp 151.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,221

$0.49 Rp 8,685

6.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 Rp 6,297

$0.48 Rp 8,460

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 Rp 44.6K

$5.81 Rp 103.0K

-56.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

6.58%

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

$23.4K Rp 414.9M

$24.6K Rp 435.7M

-4.78%

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

$31.5K Rp 558.1M

$32.1K Rp 569.3M

-1.97%

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

$78.5 Rp 1.4M

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-5.07%

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

$4.33 Rp 76.8K

$6.47 Rp 114.7K

-33.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.35 Rp 343.0K

$18.80 Rp 333.1K

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.15 Rp 357.2K

$47.41 Rp 840.2K

-57.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.64 Rp 170.9K

$15.42 Rp 273.2K

-37.48%

Cinema Ticket

$2.91 Rp 51.5K

$3.64 Rp 64.4K

-20.05%

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

$95.2 Rp 1.7M

$443 Rp 7.9M

-78.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,599 Rp 134.7M

$5,200 Rp 92.1M

46.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.47 Rp 770.4K

$43.91 Rp 778.1K

-1.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.49 Rp 540.3K

$34.14 Rp 605.0K

-10.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$75.4 Rp 1.3M

-4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 Rp 1.3M

$77.4 Rp 1.4M

-6.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 Rp 4.0M

$1,004 Rp 17.8M

-77.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.8M

$595 Rp 10.5M

-73.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 Rp 9.6M

$3,169 Rp 56.2M

-82.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 Rp 7.4M

$1,478 Rp 26.2M

-71.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,274 Rp 22.6M

$2,472 Rp 43.8M

-48.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$656 Rp 11.6M

$2,027 Rp 35.9M

-67.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$313 Rp 5.5M

$221 Rp 3.9M

41.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

13.78

-31.35%

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

Last update for Palembang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Palembang versus $1,004 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Palembang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Palembang versus $32.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $280 – making Palembang 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

Palembang vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 99% more than Palembang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $955 per month in Palembang and $1,899 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palembang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $637 in Palembang and $1,266 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $95.2 per month in Palembang and $443 in Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Palembang, where all-in costs run around $637, than in Bali at $1,266. In Palembang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Palembang costs $637 versus $1,266 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Palembang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.