Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $652 per month in Semarang vs $1,288 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,022 per month in Semarang vs $2,328 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,391 per month in Semarang vs $3,367 in Bali, rent included.

Semarang is about 49% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Semarang and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Semarang 51% lower, Bali 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 Rp 32.3K

$2.97 Rp 53.2K

-39.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 Rp 220.9K

$26.53 Rp 475.6K

-53.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

$4.09 Rp 73.3K

-9.78%

Cappuccino

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$2.25 Rp 40.3K

-33.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 Rp 9,352

$1.14 Rp 20.5K

-54.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,833

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-56.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$2.42 Rp 43.4K

-17.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 Rp 53.9K

$3.30 Rp 59.1K

-8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 Rp 18.4K

$1.73 Rp 30.9K

-41.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

-57.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

-30.43%

Eggs

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-34.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 Rp 109.5K

$13.70 Rp 245.6K

-55.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 Rp 52.6K

$4.13 Rp 74.1K

-29.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.73 Rp 156.5K

$11.33 Rp 203.1K

-22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

$3.45 Rp 61.9K

-24.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.6K

$1.53 Rp 27.3K

3.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.7K

$2.70 Rp 48.4K

-30.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

$2.15 Rp 38.5K

-26.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.3K

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

-28.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.8K

$2.13 Rp 38.2K

-11.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 Rp 16.3K

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,300

$0.67 Rp 12.1K

-38.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

$3.16 Rp 56.7K

-28.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.10 Rp 252.7K

$22.80 Rp 408.7K

-38.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 Rp 46.3K

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

-2.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 51.5K

$2.72 Rp 48.8K

5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,661

$0.27 Rp 4,801

-3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.11 Rp 234.9K

$8.46 Rp 151.7K

54.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.46 Rp 8,191

102.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,634

$0.46 Rp 8,207

-32.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 Rp 51.6K

$6.00 Rp 107.6K

-52.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

4.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 439.9M

$26.0K Rp 466.0M

-5.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.2K Rp 558.6M

$31.9K Rp 571.2M

-2.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.0 Rp 1.7M

$79.7 Rp 1.4M

17.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

$3.92 Rp 70.3K

-30.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.89 Rp 428.2K

$24.36 Rp 436.6K

-1.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.84 Rp 427.4K

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

-71.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 Rp 90.6K

$5.30 Rp 94.9K

-4.53%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 54.6K

$3.44 Rp 61.7K

-11.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.50 Rp 797.7K

$267 Rp 4.8M

-83.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 Rp 43.0M

$5,920 Rp 106.1M

-59.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.42 Rp 670.8K

$51.0 Rp 914.4K

-26.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.67 Rp 585.6K

$36.67 Rp 657.3K

-10.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

-20.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.76 Rp 784.5K

$74.8 Rp 1.3M

-41.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.6M

$854 Rp 15.3M

-70.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 Rp 2.8M

$574 Rp 10.3M

-73.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 Rp 9.6M

$2,981 Rp 53.4M

-82.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$413 Rp 7.4M

$1,784 Rp 32.0M

-76.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,187 Rp 21.3M

$2,374 Rp 42.6M

-50.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$564 Rp 10.1M

$1,973 Rp 35.4M

-71.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 Rp 3.3M

$223 Rp 4.0M

-17.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

13.28

-41.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Semarang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Semarang versus $854 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Semarang versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $285 – making Semarang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Semarang vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 98% more than Semarang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $978 per month in Semarang and $1,932 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semarang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Semarang and $27.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $652 in Semarang and $1,288 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Bali at $1,288. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Semarang costs $652 versus $1,288 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Semarang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.