🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Pekanbaru versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Pekanbaru versus $2,887 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Pekanbaru versus $4,082 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🌍Living in Pekanbaru costs roughly 63% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pekanbaru is 54% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.42Rp 25.3K
$4.21Rp 74.8K
-66.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.31Rp 147.7K
$46.88Rp 832.8K
-82.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.23Rp 39.7K
$6.86Rp 121.8K
-67.49%
Cappuccino
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$3.25Rp 57.7K
-60.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,533
$2.01Rp 35.7K
-79.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,889
$0.87Rp 15.5K
-74.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96Rp 34.9K
$3.21Rp 57.1K
-38.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 53.7K
$5.00Rp 88.8K
-39.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32Rp 23.5K
$1.61Rp 28.6K
-18.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.6K
$2.40Rp 42.6K
-51.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$1.22Rp 21.6K
-31.97%
Eggs
$1.72Rp 30.5K
$2.22Rp 39.5K
-22.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.24Rp 128.7K
$18.63Rp 330.9K
-61.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.50Rp 44.4K
$4.27Rp 75.8K
-41.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.75Rp 119.9K
$12.94Rp 229.8K
-47.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64Rp 46.9K
$3.84Rp 68.1K
-31.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66Rp 29.6K
$1.62Rp 28.7K
2.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.3K
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-3.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.6K
$2.07Rp 36.8K
-38.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.2K
$1.91Rp 34.0K
-31.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Rp 36.0K
$2.52Rp 44.8K
-19.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74Rp 13.2K
$1.06Rp 18.8K
-30.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,512
$0.59Rp 10.4K
-37.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18Rp 38.7K
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-11.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.35Rp 361.6K
$24.68Rp 438.4K
-17.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84Rp 32.6K
$2.46Rp 43.6K
-25.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
$3.01Rp 53.5K
-1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,171
$0.32Rp 5,667
-9.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.60Rp 152.8K
$10.57Rp 187.8K
-18.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95Rp 16.8K
$0.61Rp 10.9K
55.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,493
$0.60Rp 10.6K
-38.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 52.5K
$2.56Rp 45.5K
15.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74Rp 13.1K
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-28.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KRp 405.3M
$30.9KRp 548.7M
-26.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KRp 476.2M
$39.7KRp 706.2M
-32.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.4Rp 1.1M
$90.1Rp 1.6M
-29.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.32Rp 112.3K
$7.01Rp 124.5K
-9.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.43Rp 416.2K
$20.74Rp 368.5K
12.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.64Rp 508.8K
$63.9Rp 1.1M
-55.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.34Rp 148.2K
$21.78Rp 387.0K
-61.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 53.7K
$5.23Rp 92.9K
-42.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$553Rp 9.8M
-82.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,876Rp 139.9M
$6,619Rp 117.6M
18.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.56Rp 489.6K
$50.9Rp 904.0K
-45.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.07Rp 534.2K
$39.71Rp 705.4K
-24.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.5Rp 1.0M
$89.7Rp 1.6M
-37.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5Rp 1.4M
$86.5Rp 1.5M
-6.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$193Rp 3.4M
$1,546Rp 27.5M
-87.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$153Rp 2.7M
$925Rp 16.4M
-83.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$562Rp 10.0M
$4,743Rp 84.3M
-88.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370Rp 6.6M
$2,298Rp 40.8M
-83.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,260Rp 22.4M
$3,748Rp 66.6M
-66.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$668Rp 11.9M
$3,055Rp 54.3M
-78.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$181Rp 3.2M
-
-
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 Pekanbaru: August 31, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Pekanbaru and $1,546 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $8.00 in Pekanbaru vs $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $309 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 169% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $945 in Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru and Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $193 in Pekanbaru versus $1,546 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 in Uluwatu, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Pekanbaru and in Uluwatu, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Pekanbaru versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pekanbaru or in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $630 in Pekanbaru versus $1,692 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 169% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.