Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Uluwatu, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Palembang: $615 a month against $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Palembang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$615
/mo nomad
Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Palembang and in Uluwatu, Bali

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $615 in Palembang versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Palembang $615
  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $980 in Palembang versus $2,873 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Palembang $980
  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,873

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,344 in Palembang versus $4,054 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Palembang $1,344
  • Uluwatu, Bali $4,054

Living in Palembang costs roughly 64% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 54% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.14 Rp 20.4K
$3.94 Rp 70.9K
-71.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.00 Rp 287.9K
$42.05 Rp 757.0K
-61.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.82 Rp 50.8K
$6.72 Rp 120.9K
-58.04%
Cappuccino
$1.29 Rp 23.1K
$3.25 Rp 58.5K
-60.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$2.09 Rp 37.5K
-59.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 Rp 4,503
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
-73.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 Rp 30.6K
$3.14 Rp 56.6K
-45.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 Rp 58.9K
$5.44 Rp 97.9K
-39.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Rp 20.1K
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
-31.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$2.38 Rp 42.9K
-51.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
-36.43%
Eggs
$1.22 Rp 22.0K
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
-46.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.24 Rp 130.4K
$18.59 Rp 334.5K
-61.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 Rp 53.9K
$4.18 Rp 75.2K
-28.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.44 Rp 133.9K
$12.92 Rp 232.5K
-42.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$3.72 Rp 66.9K
-39.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$1.66 Rp 29.8K
-33.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 Rp 26.5K
$2.48 Rp 44.6K
-40.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.6K
$2.02 Rp 36.3K
-32.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$1.94 Rp 35.0K
-39.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 35.0K
$2.53 Rp 45.5K
-22.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
$1.04 Rp 18.7K
-37.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 7,856
$0.51 Rp 9,237
-13.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
-6.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.49 Rp 386.7K
$23.90 Rp 430.2K
-10.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$2.48 Rp 44.7K
-24.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 Rp 52.9K
$3.15 Rp 56.7K
-6.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 Rp 7,878
$0.30 Rp 5,310
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.28 Rp 185.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,526
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
-11.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 Rp 7,284
$0.52 Rp 9,437
-23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 Rp 51.2K
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
4.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
-25.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K Rp 417.8M
$29.9K Rp 538.1M
-22.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K Rp 568.7M
$39.6K Rp 712.6M
-20.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.6 Rp 1.3M
$89.3 Rp 1.6M
-19.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39 Rp 79.0K
$7.09 Rp 127.7K
-38.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.20 Rp 345.5K
$20.79 Rp 374.2K
-7.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.72 Rp 355.0K
$63.6 Rp 1.1M
-69.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.99 Rp 143.8K
$20.80 Rp 374.5K
-61.59%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 Rp 51.4K
$5.01 Rp 90.1K
-43.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.1 Rp 1.6M
$560 Rp 10.1M
-83.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,423 Rp 151.6M
$6,562 Rp 118.1M
28.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.78 Rp 770.0K
$49.97 Rp 899.5K
-14.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.77 Rp 517.8K
$38.06 Rp 685.1K
-24.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.6 Rp 1.3M
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
-15.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3 Rp 1.2M
$87.5 Rp 1.6M
-20.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$230 Rp 4.1M
$1,518 Rp 27.3M
-84.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 Rp 2.6M
$933 Rp 16.8M
-84.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 Rp 9.6M
$4,875 Rp 87.7M
-89.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 Rp 6.5M
$2,323 Rp 41.8M
-84.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,254 Rp 22.6M
$3,738 Rp 67.3M
-66.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$886 Rp 15.9M
$3,108 Rp 55.9M
-71.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 Rp 5.6M
-
-
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: October 11, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Palembang
$194
Uluwatu, Bali
$306 57.9% $112
Accommodation & Living
Palembang
$147
Uluwatu, Bali
$933 534% $785
Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
$97
Uluwatu, Bali
$119 22.6% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
$95
Uluwatu, Bali
$117 23.1% $22
Eating Out
Palembang
$52
Uluwatu, Bali
$129 147% $77
Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
$25
Uluwatu, Bali
$74 190% $48
Getting Around
Palembang
$4.3 *
Uluwatu, Bali
$15 241% $10

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Palembang and $1,518 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Palembang vs $42.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $306 per month, with Palembang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Palembang
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🕒 Local time
15:00 3:00 PM
16:00 4:00 PM
1 h ahead of Palembang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,708,413
5,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Palembang Uluwatu, Bali 1,310 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Palembang
  • Uluwatu, 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
Palembang vs Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Palembang?
Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 175% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $923 in Palembang and $2,538 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: $230 in Palembang versus $1,518 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $90.1 in Palembang versus $560 in Uluwatu, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Palembang or in Uluwatu, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Palembang – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $42.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Palembang or in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $615 in Palembang versus $1,692 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 175% 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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