🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $637 in Palembang versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in Palembang versus $2,887 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,357 in Palembang versus $4,082 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 54% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$4.21Rp 74.6K
-73.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.40Rp 290.6K
$46.88Rp 830.8K
-65.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.88Rp 51.0K
$6.86Rp 121.5K
-58.02%
Cappuccino
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$3.25Rp 57.5K
-60.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Rp 15.8K
$2.01Rp 35.7K
-55.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,318
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68Rp 29.7K
$3.21Rp 56.9K
-47.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47Rp 61.5K
$5.00Rp 88.6K
-30.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09Rp 19.4K
$1.61Rp 28.5K
-32.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15Rp 20.4K
$2.40Rp 42.5K
-52.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$1.22Rp 21.5K
-28.69%
Eggs
$1.30Rp 23.1K
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-41.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.45Rp 132.0K
$18.63Rp 330.1K
-60.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92Rp 51.7K
$4.27Rp 75.6K
-31.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.94Rp 140.7K
$12.94Rp 229.3K
-38.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.2K
$3.84Rp 68.0K
-40.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40Rp 24.8K
$1.62Rp 28.6K
-13.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.0K
$2.46Rp 43.6K
-19.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35Rp 23.9K
$2.07Rp 36.7K
-34.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.91Rp 33.9K
-41.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.1K
$2.52Rp 44.7K
-32.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$1.06Rp 18.8K
-26.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,779
$0.59Rp 10.4K
-25.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.8K
$2.46Rp 43.6K
-6.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.86Rp 369.7K
$24.68Rp 437.3K
-15.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.9K
$2.46Rp 43.5K
-24.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05Rp 54.0K
$3.01Rp 53.4K
1.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40Rp 7,096
$0.32Rp 5,654
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$10.57Rp 187.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,221
$0.61Rp 10.9K
-14.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36Rp 6,297
$0.60Rp 10.5K
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.52Rp 44.6K
$2.56Rp 45.4K
-1.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-21.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KRp 414.9M
$30.9KRp 547.3M
-24.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KRp 558.1M
$39.7KRp 704.4M
-20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.5Rp 1.4M
$90.1Rp 1.6M
-12.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33Rp 76.8K
$7.01Rp 124.2K
-38.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.35Rp 343.0K
$20.74Rp 367.6K
-6.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.15Rp 357.2K
$63.9Rp 1.1M
-68.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.64Rp 170.9K
$21.78Rp 386.1K
-55.74%
Cinema Ticket
$2.91Rp 51.5K
$5.23Rp 92.7K
-44.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.2Rp 1.7M
$553Rp 9.8M
-82.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,599Rp 134.7M
$6,619Rp 117.3M
14.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.47Rp 770.4K
$50.9Rp 901.8K
-14.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.49Rp 540.3K
$39.71Rp 703.7K
-23.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0Rp 1.3M
$89.7Rp 1.6M
-19.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$86.5Rp 1.5M
-16.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$225Rp 4.0M
$1,546Rp 27.4M
-85.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$925Rp 16.4M
-82.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$542Rp 9.6M
$4,743Rp 84.0M
-88.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$417Rp 7.4M
$2,298Rp 40.7M
-81.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,274Rp 22.6M
$3,748Rp 66.4M
-66.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$656Rp 11.6M
$3,055Rp 54.1M
-78.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palembang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$313Rp 5.5M
-
-
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: August 30, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Palembang and $1,546 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Palembang vs $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $309 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 $955 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: $225 in Palembang versus $1,546 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 $95.2 in Palembang versus $553 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 $47.00 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 $637 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 166% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.