Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Denpasar, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Semarang: $593 a month against $905 in Denpasar, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

29

Cost of Living Index in Semarang
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Semarang Living Index
43

Cost of Living Index in Denpasar, Bali
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Denpasar, Bali Living Index

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Semarang

🇮🇩 Indonesia

$593

/mo nomad

Denpasar, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

$905

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Semarang and in Denpasar, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Semarang and in Denpasar, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $593 in Semarang versus $905 in Denpasar, Bali.

Semarang $593
Denpasar, Bali $905

Estimated couple costs with rent: $938 in Semarang versus $1,497 in Denpasar, Bali.

Semarang $938
Denpasar, Bali $1,497

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,282 in Semarang versus $2,089 in Denpasar, Bali.

Semarang $1,282
Denpasar, Bali $2,089

Living in Semarang costs roughly 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Semarang 56% lower, Denpasar, Bali 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.34 Rp 24.4K

$2.23 Rp 40.6K

-39.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.53 Rp 191.3K

$23.40 Rp 425.3K

-55.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.04 Rp 55.3K

$3.84 Rp 69.8K

-20.83%

Cappuccino

$1.28 Rp 23.2K

$1.76 Rp 31.9K

-27.27%

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

$0.43 Rp 7,808

$1.16 Rp 21.1K

-62.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 Rp 2,847

$0.54 Rp 9,778

-70.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 Rp 29.8K

$1.80 Rp 32.7K

-8.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 Rp 59.1K

$2.84 Rp 51.6K

14.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.22 Rp 22.2K

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 Rp 16.7K

$1.78 Rp 32.3K

-48.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 Rp 14.4K

$0.98 Rp 17.8K

-19.39%

Eggs

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

$1.72 Rp 31.3K

-31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.86 Rp 70.2K

$14.45 Rp 262.7K

-73.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 42.4K

$3.22 Rp 58.5K

-27.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 Rp 137.3K

$9.52 Rp 173.0K

-20.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 35.7K

$2.92 Rp 53.1K

-32.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 23.3K

$1.25 Rp 22.7K

2.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.8K

$1.88 Rp 34.1K

-4.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 26.7K

$1.59 Rp 28.9K

-7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 23.3K

$1.49 Rp 27.1K

-14.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 34.3K

$1.87 Rp 34.1K

1.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 17.0K

$0.85 Rp 15.4K

9.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,359

$0.39 Rp 7,102

2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 Rp 34.1K

$1.81 Rp 32.9K

3.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.05 Rp 455.2K

$17.97 Rp 326.7K

39.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 Rp 29.8K

$1.91 Rp 34.8K

-14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 Rp 35.4K

$2.44 Rp 44.4K

-20.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 Rp 3,816

$0.23 Rp 4,167

-8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.93 Rp 253.1K

$7.97 Rp 144.9K

74.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 Rp 9,128

$0.42 Rp 7,636

19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,331

$0.43 Rp 7,760

-32.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 Rp 48.8K

$3.07 Rp 55.9K

-12.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 14.0K

$0.75 Rp 13.6K

2.67%

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

$24.5K Rp 446.0M

$21.6K Rp 392.4M

13.66%

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

$32.2K Rp 585.5M

$29.5K Rp 536.6M

9.12%

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

$86.1 Rp 1.6M

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

17.02%

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

$2.67 Rp 48.4K

$5.88 Rp 106.8K

-54.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.96 Rp 344.7K

$16.22 Rp 294.8K

16.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.30 Rp 368.9K

$35.04 Rp 636.8K

-42.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 Rp 81.5K

$12.85 Rp 233.6K

-65.06%

Cinema Ticket

$2.25 Rp 40.9K

$3.03 Rp 55.0K

-25.74%

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

$49.33 Rp 896.6K

$378 Rp 6.9M

-86.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,076 Rp 37.7M

$4,463 Rp 81.1M

-53.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.61 Rp 629.1K

$39.59 Rp 719.6K

-12.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.31 Rp 532.7K

$29.73 Rp 540.3K

-1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 Rp 1.0M

$67.0 Rp 1.2M

-15.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.07 Rp 691.9K

$66.8 Rp 1.2M

-43.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 Rp 4.1M

$591 Rp 10.7M

-61.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 Rp 2.5M

$360 Rp 6.5M

-62.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 Rp 8.7M

$1,857 Rp 33.8M

-74.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 Rp 6.9M

$889 Rp 16.2M

-57.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,223 Rp 22.2M

$1,448 Rp 26.3M

-15.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$833 Rp 15.1M

$1,176 Rp 21.4M

-29.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 Rp 3.4M

$279 Rp 5.1M

-33.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.82

13.78

-35.99%

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

Last update for Semarang: October 24, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Semarang

$184 31%

Denpasar, Bali

$233 25.8% 26.7% $49

Accommodation & Living

Semarang

$136 23%

Denpasar, Bali

$360 39.8% 164% $224

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Semarang

$108 18.2%

Denpasar, Bali

$96 10.6% 11.2% $12

Clothing & Footwear

Semarang

$71 12%

Denpasar, Bali

$91 10.1% 28.3% $20

Eating Out

Semarang

$52 8.8%

Denpasar, Bali

$72 8% 37.7% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Semarang

$25 4.2%

Denpasar, Bali

$41 4.5% 65.7% $16

Getting Around

Semarang

$17 2.8%

Denpasar, Bali

$11 1.3% 31.6% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Semarang and $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 51% 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 in Semarang vs $23 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $233 per month, with Semarang cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇩 Semarang

🇮🇩 Denpasar, Bali

🕒 Local time

03:49 3:49 AM

04:49 4:49 AM

1 h ahead of Semarang

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,555,984

788,445

💱 Currency

Indonesian Rupiah IDR Rp

📈 Exchange rate

100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD

100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR

100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD

100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Semarang Denpasar, Bali 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Semarang
Denpasar, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Total monthly costs including rent come to $593 in Semarang and $905 in Denpasar, Bali, so Semarang is about 34% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Semarang. 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: $226 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 $593 per month in Semarang versus $905 in Denpasar, Bali – Semarang is about 34% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 43% less than in Semarang. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch 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.

It comes down to priorities – Semarang wins on affordability, Denpasar, Bali on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.