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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $671 in Pekanbaru versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $972 in Pekanbaru versus $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,273 in Pekanbaru versus $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Pekanbaru costs roughly 61% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pekanbaru is 50% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58 Rp 28.1K
$4.14 Rp 74.0K
-61.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.16 Rp 163.6K
$38.93 Rp 695.2K
-76.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.43 Rp 43.3K
$5.99 Rp 106.9K
-59.43%
Cappuccino
$1.35 Rp 24.2K
$3.39 Rp 60.6K
-60.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 8,881
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
-68.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,259
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
-72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 Rp 39.5K
$3.53 Rp 63.1K
-37.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 Rp 59.1K
$4.59 Rp 81.9K
-27.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 Rp 24.2K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
-25.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 Rp 21.4K
$2.66 Rp 47.5K
-54.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 Rp 17.5K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
-19.01%
Eggs
$1.71 Rp 30.5K
$2.53 Rp 45.2K
-32.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.17 Rp 306.6K
$15.46 Rp 276.0K
11.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.62 Rp 46.8K
$4.56 Rp 81.4K
-42.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.17 Rp 181.5K
$12.51 Rp 223.4K
-18.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 Rp 51.4K
$3.90 Rp 69.6K
-26.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 Rp 30.1K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
3.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
$2.91 Rp 52.0K
-31.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.96 Rp 17.2K
$2.38 Rp 42.4K
-59.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$2.06 Rp 36.8K
-50.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 Rp 29.8K
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
-29.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
38.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,024
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
-39.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 40.2K
$3.28 Rp 58.6K
-31.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.07 Rp 376.3K
$25.10 Rp 448.3K
-16.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 50.0K
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 Rp 72.8K
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
40.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,261
$0.34 Rp 6,057
-14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.04 Rp 161.5K
$10.40 Rp 185.7K
-13.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 Rp 15.7K
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
46.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 Rp 7,814
$0.54 Rp 9,583
-18.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$7.56 Rp 135.0K
-71.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
-25.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K Rp 405.1M
$32.2K Rp 574.5M
-29.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K Rp 459.7M
$39.4K Rp 703.6M
-34.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.3 Rp 1.2M
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
-20.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.73 Rp 120.2K
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
55.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.30 Rp 505.4K
$26.50 Rp 473.2K
6.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.12 Rp 412.8K
$112 Rp 2.0M
-79.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.25 Rp 218.7K
$7.62 Rp 136.1K
60.76%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 Rp 58.7K
$4.77 Rp 85.2K
-31.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 Rp 3.1M
$347 Rp 6.2M
-49.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,092 Rp 55.2M
$7,491 Rp 133.8M
-58.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.33 Rp 613.1K
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
-43.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.18 Rp 646.2K
$42.64 Rp 761.4K
-15.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.1 Rp 1.2M
$97.5 Rp 1.7M
-33.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.5 Rp 1.4M
$85.2 Rp 1.5M
-10.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$258 Rp 4.6M
$1,335 Rp 23.8M
-80.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 Rp 2.2M
$921 Rp 16.5M
-86.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 Rp 16.2M
$4,567 Rp 81.6M
-80.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.7M
$2,786 Rp 49.8M
-94.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,026 Rp 18.3M
$3,712 Rp 66.3M
-72.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$722 Rp 12.9M
$3,139 Rp 56.1M
-77.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$190 Rp 3.4M
-
-
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 Pekanbaru: May 31, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Pekanbaru and $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Pekanbaru vs $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $315 per month, with Pekanbaru 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
Pekanbaru vs Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Pekanbaru?
Pekanbaru is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 153% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,007 in Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru and Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $258 in Pekanbaru versus $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Pekanbaru or Uluwatu, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Pekanbaru vs Uluwatu, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $671 per month in Pekanbaru versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 153% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pekanbaru or Uluwatu, Bali?
At $671 in Pekanbaru versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pekanbaru but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pekanbaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pekanbaru or Uluwatu, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Pekanbaru 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, Pekanbaru or Uluwatu, Bali?
Safety-wise, Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% 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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