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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Semarang versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,036 in Semarang versus $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,429 in Semarang versus $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Semarang costs roughly 32% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Semarang 52% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

-24.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.50 Rp 224.2K

$21.21 Rp 380.5K

-41.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 Rp 65.3K

$3.39 Rp 60.9K

7.37%

Cappuccino

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

-21.93%

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

$0.48 Rp 8,687

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

-44.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,820

$0.49 Rp 8,810

-44.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 Rp 36.1K

$2.02 Rp 36.2K

-0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 Rp 51.8K

$2.54 Rp 45.6K

13.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

-24.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 Rp 17.9K

$2.07 Rp 37.1K

-51.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.3K

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

-13.13%

Eggs

$1.59 Rp 28.5K

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

-18.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.13 Rp 109.9K

$11.90 Rp 213.4K

-48.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.82 Rp 50.6K

$3.50 Rp 62.8K

-19.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 Rp 152.1K

$9.90 Rp 177.6K

-14.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 Rp 46.6K

$3.12 Rp 56.0K

-16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

24.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

-14.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

-14.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 Rp 22.1K

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-20.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

0.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

6.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,256

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-35.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 Rp 41.1K

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

-13.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 Rp 242.6K

$18.39 Rp 330.0K

-26.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

8.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 Rp 50.7K

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

26.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,702

$0.26 Rp 4,695

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.96 Rp 232.5K

$7.41 Rp 133.0K

74.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

$0.44 Rp 7,857

97.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,562

$0.38 Rp 6,851

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 Rp 51.4K

$5.43 Rp 97.4K

-47.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

11.11%

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

$24.8K Rp 444.6M

$23.1K Rp 413.5M

7.50%

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

$30.4K Rp 545.5M

$28.6K Rp 512.5M

6.44%

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

$92.7 Rp 1.7M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

27.21%

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

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

-26.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 Rp 420.7K

$21.15 Rp 379.4K

10.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.69 Rp 424.9K

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-65.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.24 Rp 93.9K

$4.71 Rp 84.4K

11.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 54.7K

$2.81 Rp 50.5K

8.54%

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

$44.58 Rp 799.6K

$233 Rp 4.2M

-80.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,388 Rp 42.8M

$5,136 Rp 92.1M

-53.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.26 Rp 650.5K

$46.35 Rp 831.4K

-21.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.31 Rp 579.6K

$32.50 Rp 583.0K

-0.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.1 Rp 1.2M

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

-11.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.45 Rp 779.4K

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

-33.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.6M

$528 Rp 9.5M

-51.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 Rp 2.7M

$356 Rp 6.4M

-57.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 Rp 9.8M

$1,791 Rp 32.1M

-69.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 Rp 7.5M

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

-61.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,179 Rp 21.2M

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

-16.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$545 Rp 9.8M

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

-53.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 Rp 3.4M

$278 Rp 5.0M

-32.01%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Semarang and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 47% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Semarang vs $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $243 per month, with Semarang 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

Semarang vs Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Semarang and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($644 vs $942 including rent). Semarang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Denpasar, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Semarang versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $644 per month in Semarang versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Semarang runs roughly 75% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Semarang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Semarang and Denpasar, 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.

Expats usually find Semarang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.