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