🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Sibolga versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $952 in Sibolga versus $1,663 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,288 in Sibolga versus $2,365 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Living in Sibolga costs roughly 36% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sibolga54% lower, Denpasar, Bali28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.0K
$2.36Rp 40.6K
-36.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.24Rp 210.3K
$21.50Rp 369.5K
-43.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.40Rp 58.5K
$3.29Rp 56.6K
3.34%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 29.8K
$1.90Rp 32.6K
-8.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,459
$0.88Rp 15.1K
-37.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,826
$0.50Rp 8,603
-44.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06Rp 52.5K
$2.00Rp 34.4K
53.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66Rp 45.7K
$2.53Rp 43.5K
5.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 20.9K
$1.45Rp 25.0K
-15.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17Rp 20.1K
$2.05Rp 35.2K
-42.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 14.9K
$0.92Rp 15.7K
-5.43%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 26.5K
$1.89Rp 32.5K
-18.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.27Rp 142.1K
$11.86Rp 203.9K
-30.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.25Rp 38.6K
$3.40Rp 58.4K
-33.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.16Rp 157.4K
$9.82Rp 168.8K
-6.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 40.8K
$2.98Rp 51.2K
-20.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45Rp 24.9K
$1.27Rp 21.8K
14.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.1K
$2.21Rp 37.9K
-18.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.0K
$1.86Rp 32.0K
-15.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70Rp 12.1K
$1.55Rp 26.6K
-54.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60Rp 27.5K
$1.85Rp 31.8K
-13.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.3K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
11.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,101
$0.58Rp 9,985
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78Rp 30.6K
$2.63Rp 45.1K
-32.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.99Rp 343.5K
$18.93Rp 325.3K
5.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28Rp 39.3K
$2.31Rp 39.7K
-1.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26Rp 38.8K
$2.22Rp 38.1K
1.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42Rp 7,216
$0.26Rp 4,489
61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.56Rp 164.3K
$7.29Rp 125.2K
31.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 9,833
$0.40Rp 6,927
42.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 5,955
$0.42Rp 7,172
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 50.8K
$5.61Rp 96.5K
-47.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 17.7K
$0.72Rp 12.3K
43.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 415.9M
$23.3KRp 400.6M
3.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KRp 479.0M
$29.4KRp 505.4M
-5.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.84Rp 461.2K
$72.6Rp 1.2M
-63.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23Rp 72.7K
$3.65Rp 62.8K
15.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97Rp 394.8K
$21.89Rp 376.1K
4.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.36Rp 401.5K
$68.1Rp 1.2M
-65.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 103.5K
$4.62Rp 79.3K
30.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05Rp 52.4K
$2.83Rp 48.7K
7.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$24.23Rp 416.4K
$228Rp 3.9M
-89.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,734Rp 132.9M
$5,033Rp 86.5M
53.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.29Rp 262.7K
$46.85Rp 805.1K
-67.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.08Rp 310.7K
$32.32Rp 555.5K
-44.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.9Rp 1.1M
$75.9Rp 1.3M
-13.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2Rp 1.3M
$67.6Rp 1.2M
9.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263Rp 4.5M
$525Rp 9.0M
-49.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.7M
$346Rp 6.0M
-53.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$578Rp 9.9M
$1,754Rp 30.1M
-67.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 5.7M
$1,099Rp 18.9M
-69.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,229Rp 21.1M
$1,596Rp 27.4M
-22.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$767Rp 13.2M
$1,244Rp 21.4M
-38.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 2.9M
$290Rp 5.0M
-42.29%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Sibolga and $525 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 73% 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 in Sibolga vs $22 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $242 per month, with Sibolga 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
Sibolga vs Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sibolga and Denpasar, Bali?
Sibolga and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($616 vs $961 including rent). Sibolga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 73% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sibolga and Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Sibolga versus $525 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sibolga or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $616 per month in Sibolga versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Sibolga and Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Sibolga runs roughly 31% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $616 in Sibolga versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sibolga but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sibolga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sibolga and Denpasar, Bali?
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.
Is Sibolga or Denpasar, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sibolga 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.
Where should expats move: Sibolga or Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Sibolga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.