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: $681 in Pekanbaru versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $970 in Pekanbaru versus $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,258 in Pekanbaru versus $4,593 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 49% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$4.27 Rp 76.3K
-63.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.68 Rp 155.2K
$39.90 Rp 713.9K
-78.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.49 Rp 44.6K
$6.16 Rp 110.1K
-59.58%
Cappuccino
$1.42 Rp 25.4K
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
-56.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,346
$1.62 Rp 29.0K
-70.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,653
$0.89 Rp 15.8K
-70.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 Rp 38.3K
$3.53 Rp 63.2K
-39.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 Rp 61.3K
$4.76 Rp 85.1K
-27.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
-28.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$2.63 Rp 47.1K
-54.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
-19.69%
Eggs
$1.78 Rp 31.8K
$2.57 Rp 45.9K
-30.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.88 Rp 302.0K
$15.13 Rp 270.6K
11.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.61 Rp 46.7K
$4.37 Rp 78.2K
-40.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.40 Rp 186.1K
$12.43 Rp 222.3K
-16.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 Rp 52.9K
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
-25.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 Rp 29.9K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
2.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 Rp 36.0K
$2.90 Rp 51.9K
-30.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
$2.35 Rp 42.0K
-62.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 Rp 17.8K
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 28.7K
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
-30.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
46.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,365
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
-49.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-29.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.82 Rp 354.6K
$24.45 Rp 437.4K
-18.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
-5.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rp 69.3K
$2.87 Rp 51.3K
34.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,287
$0.36 Rp 6,489
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.33 Rp 166.9K
$10.28 Rp 184.0K
-9.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 Rp 15.8K
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
56.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 Rp 7,187
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
-29.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
$7.63 Rp 136.4K
-71.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$1.06 Rp 18.9K
-27.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K Rp 414.4M
$32.2K Rp 575.4M
-27.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K Rp 455.4M
$40.3K Rp 720.3M
-36.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 Rp 1.3M
$88.2 Rp 1.6M
-20.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58 Rp 117.7K
$4.47 Rp 80.0K
47.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.97 Rp 500.3K
$26.05 Rp 466.1K
7.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.15 Rp 414.2K
$115 Rp 2.1M
-79.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.41 Rp 222.0K
$7.75 Rp 138.7K
60.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.21 Rp 57.4K
$4.70 Rp 84.1K
-31.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 Rp 3.1M
$339 Rp 6.1M
-48.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,096 Rp 55.4M
$7,595 Rp 135.9M
-59.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.18 Rp 611.4K
$60.8 Rp 1.1M
-43.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.35 Rp 650.3K
$42.63 Rp 762.7K
-14.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 Rp 1.2M
$97.9 Rp 1.8M
-32.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 Rp 1.4M
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-11.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 Rp 4.6M
$1,369 Rp 24.5M
-81.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$122 Rp 2.2M
$920 Rp 16.5M
-86.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$930 Rp 16.6M
$4,495 Rp 80.4M
-79.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 Rp 2.7M
$2,803 Rp 50.2M
-94.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,135 Rp 20.3M
$3,751 Rp 67.1M
-69.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$699 Rp 12.5M
$3,040 Rp 54.4M
-77.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pekanbaru
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$181 Rp 3.2M
-
-
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Pekanbaru and $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Pekanbaru vs $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $312 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 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,021 in Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru and Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Pekanbaru versus $1,369 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 $9.00 versus $40.00 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 $681 per month in Pekanbaru versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali – a 158% 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 $681 in Pekanbaru versus $1,759 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 158% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Pekanbaru vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities