Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibolga and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibolga and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $600 per month in Sibolga vs $1,295 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $943 per month in Sibolga vs $2,292 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,285 per month in Sibolga vs $3,289 in Bali, rent included.

Sibolga is about 54% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sibolga and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Sibolga 55% lower, Bali 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

$2.90 Rp 51.9K

-47.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.25 Rp 219.4K

$27.50 Rp 492.7K

-55.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.34 Rp 59.8K

$4.08 Rp 73.1K

-18.14%

Cappuccino

$1.70 Rp 30.5K

$2.35 Rp 42.0K

-27.66%

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

$0.55 Rp 9,781

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,610

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

-55.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

25.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 Rp 46.5K

$3.20 Rp 57.3K

-18.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

-29.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 Rp 20.0K

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-51.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

-20.00%

Eggs

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

$2.34 Rp 42.0K

-32.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 Rp 142.2K

$13.86 Rp 248.3K

-42.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

-41.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 162.0K

$11.52 Rp 206.4K

-21.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$3.50 Rp 62.6K

-34.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

-27.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.7K

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-33.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 Rp 12.7K

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

-61.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-30.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 Rp 16.3K

$1.02 Rp 18.2K

-10.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 Rp 5,840

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

$3.11 Rp 55.8K

-42.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.67 Rp 334.5K

$21.97 Rp 393.6K

-15.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 Rp 40.7K

$2.76 Rp 49.5K

-17.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

$2.70 Rp 48.3K

-17.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 Rp 8,016

$0.27 Rp 4,779

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.91 Rp 177.6K

$8.17 Rp 146.5K

21.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.46 Rp 8,235

23.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,764

$0.46 Rp 8,225

-17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$6.22 Rp 111.5K

-54.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

20.00%

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

$24.5K Rp 439.2M

$25.9K Rp 463.4M

-5.23%

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

$27.6K Rp 495.0M

$32.6K Rp 584.2M

-15.26%

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

$26.42 Rp 473.3K

$80.0 Rp 1.4M

-66.97%

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

$4.27 Rp 76.4K

$4.00 Rp 71.7K

6.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.51 Rp 403.2K

$23.97 Rp 429.5K

-6.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.14 Rp 414.5K

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

-71.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.33 Rp 113.5K

$5.33 Rp 95.5K

18.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

$3.32 Rp 59.5K

-5.42%

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

$24.08 Rp 431.5K

$273 Rp 4.9M

-91.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,714 Rp 138.2M

$6,093 Rp 109.2M

26.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.47 Rp 277.2K

$51.5 Rp 922.7K

-69.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.47 Rp 330.9K

$36.05 Rp 645.9K

-48.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 Rp 1.2M

$82.6 Rp 1.5M

-20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.9 Rp 1.3M

$72.6 Rp 1.3M

1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 Rp 4.7M

$882 Rp 15.8M

-70.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$583 Rp 10.4M

-73.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 Rp 10.6M

$2,917 Rp 52.3M

-79.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 Rp 6.0M

$1,819 Rp 32.6M

-81.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,315 Rp 23.6M

$2,419 Rp 43.3M

-45.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 Rp 13.7M

$1,929 Rp 34.6M

-60.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$220 Rp 3.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.28

-31.10%

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

Last update for Sibolga: June 9, 2026

Last update for Bali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Sibolga versus $882 in 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 Sibolga versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $283 – making Sibolga 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

Sibolga vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 116% more than Sibolga, 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 $901 per month in Sibolga and $1,943 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sibolga, 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 Sibolga 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 $600 in Sibolga and $1,295 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sibolga, where all-in costs run around $600, than in Bali at $1,295. In Sibolga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sibolga costs $600 versus $1,295 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 Sibolga. 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.