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: $661 in Palembang versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Palembang versus $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Palembang versus $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 62% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 51% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$4.27 Rp 76.3K
-71.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.90 Rp 320.2K
$39.90 Rp 713.9K
-55.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.05 Rp 54.5K
$6.16 Rp 110.1K
-50.49%
Cappuccino
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
-57.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
$1.62 Rp 29.0K
-44.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,640
$0.89 Rp 15.8K
-70.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 Rp 31.9K
$3.53 Rp 63.2K
-49.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 Rp 67.0K
$4.76 Rp 85.1K
-21.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 Rp 23.4K
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
-29.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
$2.63 Rp 47.1K
-58.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 Rp 24.6K
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
8.66%
Eggs
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
$2.57 Rp 45.9K
-50.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.96 Rp 142.5K
$15.13 Rp 270.6K
-47.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 Rp 56.1K
$4.37 Rp 78.2K
-28.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.48 Rp 151.8K
$12.43 Rp 222.3K
-31.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
-41.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-10.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.2K
$2.90 Rp 51.9K
-36.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
$2.35 Rp 42.0K
-33.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.4K
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
-31.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.4K
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
-13.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.4K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
-10.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 9,004
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
-38.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42 Rp 43.4K
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-26.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.22 Rp 361.7K
$24.45 Rp 437.4K
-17.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 Rp 36.7K
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
-29.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 Rp 57.7K
$2.87 Rp 51.3K
12.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 Rp 8,637
$0.36 Rp 6,489
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.59 Rp 171.6K
$10.28 Rp 184.0K
-6.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,126
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
-40.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 Rp 50.7K
$7.63 Rp 136.4K
-62.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$1.06 Rp 18.9K
-28.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 444.4M
$32.2K Rp 575.4M
-22.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K Rp 502.4M
$40.3K Rp 720.3M
-30.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 Rp 1.3M
$88.2 Rp 1.6M
-20.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18 Rp 74.7K
$4.47 Rp 80.0K
-6.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 Rp 418.9K
$26.05 Rp 466.1K
-10.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.79 Rp 407.6K
$115 Rp 2.1M
-80.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 Rp 107.7K
$7.75 Rp 138.7K
-22.32%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98 Rp 53.4K
$4.70 Rp 84.1K
-36.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.2 Rp 1.7M
$339 Rp 6.1M
-72.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,485 Rp 133.9M
$7,595 Rp 135.9M
-1.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.82 Rp 748.1K
$60.8 Rp 1.1M
-31.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.61 Rp 547.6K
$42.63 Rp 762.7K
-28.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 Rp 1.2M
$97.9 Rp 1.8M
-32.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 Rp 1.3M
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-15.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 Rp 4.7M
$1,369 Rp 24.5M
-80.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 Rp 2.8M
$920 Rp 16.5M
-82.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 Rp 10.6M
$4,495 Rp 80.4M
-86.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 Rp 5.9M
$2,803 Rp 50.2M
-88.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$976 Rp 17.5M
$3,751 Rp 67.1M
-73.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$601 Rp 10.7M
$3,040 Rp 54.4M
-80.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$300 Rp 5.4M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Palembang and $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Palembang vs $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $312 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 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $991 in Palembang and $2,638 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: $262 in Palembang versus $1,369 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 and in Uluwatu, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Palembang versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 166% 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 living in Palembang or in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $661 in Palembang versus $1,759 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 166% 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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