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: $661 in Palembang versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Palembang versus $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Palembang versus $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 30% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Palembang 51% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$2.38 Rp 42.7K

-49.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.90 Rp 320.2K

$21.21 Rp 379.4K

-15.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.5K

$3.39 Rp 60.7K

-10.03%

Cappuccino

$1.40 Rp 25.1K

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

-25.13%

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

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,640

$0.49 Rp 8,786

-46.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 Rp 31.9K

$2.02 Rp 36.1K

-11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 Rp 67.0K

$2.54 Rp 45.5K

47.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

$1.42 Rp 25.3K

-7.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

$2.07 Rp 37.0K

-46.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.6K

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

39.39%

Eggs

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

$1.96 Rp 35.1K

-35.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 Rp 142.5K

$11.90 Rp 212.8K

-33.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 Rp 56.1K

$3.50 Rp 62.6K

-10.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 Rp 151.8K

$9.90 Rp 177.1K

-14.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.2K

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

-26.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

13.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-18.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

-14.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.4K

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-11.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.4K

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

18.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 9,004

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 Rp 43.4K

$2.65 Rp 47.4K

-8.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.22 Rp 361.7K

$18.39 Rp 329.1K

9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 Rp 36.7K

$2.35 Rp 42.1K

-12.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 Rp 57.7K

$2.24 Rp 40.0K

44.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,637

$0.26 Rp 4,682

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 Rp 171.6K

$7.41 Rp 132.6K

29.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.44 Rp 7,836

29.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 6,126

$0.38 Rp 6,832

-10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 Rp 50.7K

$5.43 Rp 97.1K

-47.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.72 Rp 12.8K

5.56%

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

$24.8K Rp 444.4M

$23.1K Rp 412.4M

7.75%

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

$28.1K Rp 502.4M

$28.6K Rp 511.1M

-1.69%

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

$70.2 Rp 1.3M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

-3.72%

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

$4.18 Rp 74.7K

$3.72 Rp 66.6K

12.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.42 Rp 418.9K

$21.15 Rp 378.3K

10.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.79 Rp 407.6K

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-66.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 107.7K

$4.71 Rp 84.2K

27.81%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 53.4K

$2.81 Rp 50.4K

6.05%

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

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

$233 Rp 4.2M

-59.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,485 Rp 133.9M

$5,136 Rp 91.9M

45.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.82 Rp 748.1K

$46.35 Rp 829.1K

-9.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.61 Rp 547.6K

$32.50 Rp 581.4K

-5.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

-12.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

11.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 Rp 4.7M

$528 Rp 9.4M

-50.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.8M

$356 Rp 6.4M

-55.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 Rp 10.6M

$1,791 Rp 32.0M

-66.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 Rp 5.9M

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

-69.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 Rp 17.5M

$1,415 Rp 25.3M

-30.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$601 Rp 10.7M

$1,164 Rp 20.8M

-48.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$300 Rp 5.4M

$278 Rp 5.0M

8.19%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Palembang and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Palembang vs $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 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 43% in total monthly costs ($661 vs $942 including rent). Palembang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Palembang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 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 $661 per month in Palembang versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 29% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Palembang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 43% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.