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: $581 in Semarang versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $928 in Semarang versus $1,548 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,274 in Semarang versus $2,159 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Semarang costs roughly 38% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Semarang 58% lower, Denpasar, Bali 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.45 Rp 25.5K

$2.32 Rp 40.9K

-37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.54 Rp 185.6K

$24.34 Rp 428.6K

-56.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.3K

$3.78 Rp 66.5K

-16.93%

Cappuccino

$1.24 Rp 21.9K

$1.83 Rp 32.3K

-32.24%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,635

$1.16 Rp 20.4K

-57.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 Rp 3,148

$0.51 Rp 8,928

-64.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$2.03 Rp 35.8K

-13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 Rp 60.3K

$2.98 Rp 52.5K

15.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$1.25 Rp 22.0K

-10.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 Rp 16.9K

$1.87 Rp 32.8K

-48.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$0.90 Rp 15.8K

-12.22%

Eggs

$1.38 Rp 24.3K

$1.69 Rp 29.7K

-18.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 Rp 99.6K

$14.72 Rp 259.1K

-61.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 41.6K

$3.29 Rp 58.0K

-28.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 Rp 143.6K

$9.82 Rp 172.9K

-16.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 Rp 44.5K

$2.99 Rp 52.6K

-15.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.0K

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

22.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.9K

$1.86 Rp 32.7K

-2.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.65 Rp 29.0K

-5.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 31.5K

$1.54 Rp 27.1K

16.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 39.3K

$1.98 Rp 34.9K

12.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 Rp 14.6K

$0.84 Rp 14.8K

-1.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,375

$0.41 Rp 7,269

2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 39.8K

$1.81 Rp 31.9K

24.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.17 Rp 249.5K

$18.84 Rp 331.7K

-24.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 41.4K

$1.97 Rp 34.6K

19.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 Rp 47.5K

$2.38 Rp 41.9K

13.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,246

$0.22 Rp 3,860

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.32 Rp 252.2K

$7.67 Rp 135.0K

86.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 Rp 15.6K

$0.43 Rp 7,626

106.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,129

$0.43 Rp 7,526

-32.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 Rp 53.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.68 Rp 11.9K

17.65%

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

$23.0K Rp 405.1M

$21.8K Rp 384.4M

5.37%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.6M

$28.5K Rp 502.6M

8.96%

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

$68.1 Rp 1.2M

$75.7 Rp 1.3M

-10.13%

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

$2.69 Rp 47.3K

$5.84 Rp 102.9K

-53.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.77 Rp 365.6K

$17.30 Rp 304.5K

20.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.00 Rp 369.8K

$39.41 Rp 693.9K

-46.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 Rp 83.8K

$12.91 Rp 227.4K

-63.13%

Cinema Ticket

$2.22 Rp 39.1K

$3.09 Rp 54.4K

-28.16%

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

$40.97 Rp 721.3K

$383 Rp 6.7M

-89.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,231 Rp 39.3M

$4,468 Rp 78.7M

-50.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.65 Rp 504.3K

$39.69 Rp 698.7K

-27.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.45 Rp 518.4K

$31.07 Rp 547.0K

-5.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 Rp 1.0M

$69.4 Rp 1.2M

-15.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.84 Rp 701.5K

$68.1 Rp 1.2M

-41.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 Rp 4.0M

$591 Rp 10.4M

-61.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 Rp 2.5M

$361 Rp 6.4M

-60.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 Rp 8.7M

$1,858 Rp 32.7M

-73.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 Rp 6.9M

$906 Rp 15.9M

-56.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,178 Rp 20.7M

$1,463 Rp 25.8M

-19.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$557 Rp 9.8M

$1,200 Rp 21.1M

-53.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 Rp 3.5M

$279 Rp 4.9M

-29.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

13.78

-43.18%

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

Last update for Semarang: September 6, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $229 in Semarang and $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 42% 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: $11.00 in Semarang vs $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $239 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 61% in total monthly costs ($581 vs $937 including rent). Semarang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 42% 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: $229 in Semarang versus $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $581 per month in Semarang versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Semarang runs roughly 87% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $581 in Semarang versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Semarang but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Semarang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 61% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.