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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $652 per month in Semarang vs $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,022 per month in Semarang vs $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,391 per month in Semarang vs $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Semarang is about 62% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Semarang sits 51% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
$4.14 Rp 74.0K
-56.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.32 Rp 220.0K
$38.93 Rp 695.2K
-68.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.69 Rp 65.8K
$5.99 Rp 106.9K
-38.40%
Cappuccino
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$3.39 Rp 60.6K
-55.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,317
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
-67.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,815
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
-69.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 Rp 35.5K
$3.53 Rp 63.1K
-43.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 Rp 53.7K
$4.59 Rp 81.9K
-34.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
-44.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
$2.66 Rp 47.5K
-61.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
-33.88%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 27.2K
$2.53 Rp 45.2K
-39.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.11 Rp 109.1K
$15.46 Rp 276.0K
-60.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.93 Rp 52.4K
$4.56 Rp 81.4K
-35.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.73 Rp 155.9K
$12.51 Rp 223.4K
-30.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 Rp 46.2K
$3.90 Rp 69.6K
-33.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.4K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-2.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.6K
$2.91 Rp 52.0K
-35.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$2.38 Rp 42.4K
-33.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 23.2K
$2.06 Rp 36.8K
-36.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.6K
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
-20.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 Rp 16.2K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
-15.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,272
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
-44.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 Rp 40.3K
$3.28 Rp 58.6K
-31.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.10 Rp 251.8K
$25.10 Rp 448.3K
-43.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 Rp 46.1K
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-14.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 51.3K
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
-0.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,643
$0.34 Rp 6,057
-23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.11 Rp 234.0K
$10.40 Rp 185.7K
26.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
55.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,613
$0.54 Rp 9,583
-42.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 Rp 51.4K
$7.56 Rp 135.0K
-61.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
-16.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 438.2M
$32.2K Rp 574.5M
-23.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 556.5M
$39.4K Rp 703.6M
-20.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.0 Rp 1.7M
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
7.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.74 Rp 48.9K
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
-36.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.89 Rp 426.6K
$26.50 Rp 473.2K
-9.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.84 Rp 425.7K
$112 Rp 2.0M
-78.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 Rp 90.3K
$7.62 Rp 136.1K
-33.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 Rp 54.4K
$4.77 Rp 85.2K
-36.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.50 Rp 794.6K
$347 Rp 6.2M
-87.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,399 Rp 42.8M
$7,491 Rp 133.8M
-67.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.42 Rp 668.3K
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
-37.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.67 Rp 583.4K
$42.64 Rp 761.4K
-23.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.9 Rp 1.2M
$97.5 Rp 1.7M
-31.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.76 Rp 781.5K
$85.2 Rp 1.5M
-48.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 Rp 4.6M
$1,335 Rp 23.8M
-80.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.7M
$921 Rp 16.5M
-83.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$536 Rp 9.6M
$4,567 Rp 81.6M
-88.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$413 Rp 7.4M
$2,786 Rp 49.8M
-85.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,187 Rp 21.2M
$3,712 Rp 66.3M
-68.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$564 Rp 10.1M
$3,139 Rp 56.1M
-82.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Semarang
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$184 Rp 3.3M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Semarang versus $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Semarang versus $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $315 – 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Semarang?
Yes – Uluwatu, Bali is pricier by about 161%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $978 per month in Semarang and $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Semarang or Uluwatu, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Semarang and $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Semarang vs Uluwatu, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $652 in Semarang and $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Semarang or Uluwatu, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,700. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Semarang or Uluwatu, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Semarang or Uluwatu, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Semarang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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