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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Palembang versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Palembang versus $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Palembang versus $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 32% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Palembang 51% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

-50.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

$21.74 Rp 388.3K

-19.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

$3.26 Rp 58.2K

-3.68%

Cappuccino

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

-25.93%

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

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

5.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,004

$0.47 Rp 8,368

-40.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

$2.56 Rp 45.7K

40.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

-9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$2.04 Rp 36.5K

-43.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

53.26%

Eggs

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-37.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

$11.89 Rp 212.4K

-32.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

-8.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

$9.95 Rp 177.7K

-12.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

$3.09 Rp 55.2K

-22.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$2.22 Rp 39.6K

-14.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

-17.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

7.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

12.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 8,973

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

$2.64 Rp 47.1K

-7.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

$19.27 Rp 344.2K

12.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

-10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

$2.23 Rp 39.8K

41.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 Rp 8,466

$0.24 Rp 4,257

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

$7.34 Rp 131.0K

32.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,363

$0.44 Rp 7,813

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,685

$0.39 Rp 6,914

-5.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

$5.45 Rp 97.2K

-45.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

1.35%

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

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

$23.5K Rp 420.5M

3.03%

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

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

$29.1K Rp 520.1M

-3.37%

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

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

-0.95%

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

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

$3.67 Rp 65.5K

15.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

$21.23 Rp 379.1K

11.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

-66.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

$4.45 Rp 79.5K

34.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

$2.91 Rp 52.0K

4.47%

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

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

$227 Rp 4.1M

-59.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

$5,191 Rp 92.7M

45.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

$47.61 Rp 850.2K

-11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

$32.45 Rp 579.4K

-4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

-11.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

10.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 Rp 4.6M

$528 Rp 9.4M

-51.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$344 Rp 6.1M

-54.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 Rp 10.4M

$1,801 Rp 32.2M

-67.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 Rp 5.9M

$1,065 Rp 19.0M

-68.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

$1,476 Rp 26.4M

-8.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 Rp 14.0M

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

-33.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$335 Rp 6.0M

-7.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.28

-31.10%

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

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Palembang and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Palembang vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $243 per month, with Palembang cheaper across the board.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palembang and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($657 vs $961 including rent). Palembang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 8% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Palembang versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $657 per month in Palembang versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $657 in Palembang versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Palembang and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.