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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Palembang versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Palembang versus $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Palembang versus $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 61% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 51% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$4.14 Rp 74.0K
-71.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.59 Rp 314.1K
$38.93 Rp 695.2K
-54.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.14 Rp 56.0K
$5.99 Rp 106.9K
-47.58%
Cappuccino
$1.40 Rp 25.0K
$3.39 Rp 60.6K
-58.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 Rp 17.4K
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
-39.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,004
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
-68.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
$3.53 Rp 63.1K
-48.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 Rp 64.2K
$4.59 Rp 81.9K
-21.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 Rp 23.4K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
-28.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$2.66 Rp 47.5K
-56.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 Rp 25.1K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
16.53%
Eggs
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$2.53 Rp 45.2K
-52.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.99 Rp 142.6K
$15.46 Rp 276.0K
-48.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
$4.56 Rp 81.4K
-31.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.70 Rp 155.3K
$12.51 Rp 223.4K
-30.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
$3.90 Rp 69.6K
-38.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 Rp 25.7K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-11.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 33.8K
$2.91 Rp 52.0K
-35.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.6K
$2.38 Rp 42.4K
-37.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 Rp 24.7K
$2.06 Rp 36.8K
-33.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
-18.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.3K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
-10.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 8,973
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
-32.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 Rp 43.6K
$3.28 Rp 58.6K
-25.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.68 Rp 387.2K
$25.10 Rp 448.3K
-13.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 Rp 36.0K
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-32.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 Rp 56.5K
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
8.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$0.34 Rp 6,057
38.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 Rp 173.9K
$10.40 Rp 185.7K
-6.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 Rp 9,363
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
-13.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,685
$0.54 Rp 9,583
-31.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 Rp 52.8K
$7.56 Rp 135.0K
-60.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
-27.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 433.2M
$32.2K Rp 574.5M
-24.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K Rp 502.5M
$39.4K Rp 703.6M
-28.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.8 Rp 1.2M
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
-20.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23 Rp 75.6K
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
-2.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.64 Rp 422.1K
$26.50 Rp 473.2K
-10.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.44 Rp 418.6K
$112 Rp 2.0M
-79.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00 Rp 107.1K
$7.62 Rp 136.1K
-21.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04 Rp 54.3K
$4.77 Rp 85.2K
-36.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.3 Rp 1.6M
$347 Rp 6.2M
-73.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,546 Rp 134.8M
$7,491 Rp 133.8M
0.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.12 Rp 752.2K
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
-30.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.14 Rp 556.1K
$42.64 Rp 761.4K
-26.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 Rp 1.2M
$97.5 Rp 1.7M
-30.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
$85.2 Rp 1.5M
-13.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 Rp 4.6M
$1,335 Rp 23.8M
-80.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 Rp 2.8M
$921 Rp 16.5M
-82.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 Rp 10.4M
$4,567 Rp 81.6M
-87.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 Rp 5.9M
$2,786 Rp 49.8M
-88.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,346 Rp 24.0M
$3,712 Rp 66.3M
-63.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$783 Rp 14.0M
$3,139 Rp 56.1M
-75.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 Rp 5.5M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Palembang and $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Palembang vs $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $315 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Palembang?
Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $986 in Palembang and $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Palembang and Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Palembang versus $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Palembang vs Uluwatu, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $657 per month in Palembang versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 7% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Palembang or Uluwatu, Bali?
At $657 in Palembang versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Palembang or Uluwatu, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Palembang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Uluwatu, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Palembang or Uluwatu, Bali?
Safety-wise, Palembang and Uluwatu, 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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