🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $631 in Sibolga versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Sibolga versus $1,548 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,349 in Sibolga versus $2,159 in Denpasar, Bali.
🌍Living in Sibolga costs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sibolga54% lower, Denpasar, Bali32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.67Rp 29.3K
$2.32Rp 40.9K
-28.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.83Rp 243.5K
$24.34Rp 428.6K
-43.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.3K
$3.78Rp 66.5K
-14.02%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 26.6K
$1.83Rp 32.3K
-17.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,443
$1.16Rp 20.4K
-63.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,046
$0.51Rp 8,928
-54.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28Rp 40.2K
$2.03Rp 35.8K
12.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50Rp 61.6K
$2.98Rp 52.5K
17.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14Rp 20.0K
$1.25Rp 22.0K
-8.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 19.7K
$1.87Rp 32.8K
-40.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.4K
$0.90Rp 15.8K
-8.89%
Eggs
$1.45Rp 25.5K
$1.69Rp 29.7K
-14.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.20Rp 126.7K
$14.72Rp 259.1K
-51.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05Rp 53.6K
$3.29Rp 58.0K
-7.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78Rp 136.9K
$9.82Rp 172.9K
-20.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.7K
$2.99Rp 52.6K
-22.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 22.7K
$1.25Rp 22.1K
3.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76Rp 31.0K
$1.86Rp 32.7K
-5.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24Rp 21.8K
$1.65Rp 29.0K
-24.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.2K
$1.54Rp 27.1K
-18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.0K
$1.98Rp 34.9K
-2.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74Rp 12.9K
$0.84Rp 14.8K
-11.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,688
$0.41Rp 7,269
7.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64Rp 46.5K
$1.81Rp 31.9K
45.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.25Rp 356.5K
$18.84Rp 331.7K
7.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$1.97Rp 34.6K
-6.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94Rp 51.8K
$2.38Rp 41.9K
23.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,721
$0.22Rp 3,860
22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.67Rp 135.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,260
$0.43Rp 7,626
23.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,732
$0.43Rp 7,526
-23.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.84Rp 50.0K
$3.04Rp 53.5K
-6.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$0.68Rp 11.9K
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KRp 411.5M
$21.8KRp 384.4M
7.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3KRp 551.8M
$28.5KRp 502.6M
9.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.5Rp 1.2M
$75.7Rp 1.3M
-8.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.48Rp 78.9K
$5.84Rp 102.9K
-23.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05Rp 335.5K
$17.30Rp 304.5K
10.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.58Rp 362.4K
$39.41Rp 693.9K
-47.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.69Rp 153.0K
$12.91Rp 227.4K
-32.69%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 50.9K
$3.09Rp 54.4K
-6.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.4Rp 1.7M
$383Rp 6.7M
-75.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,787Rp 137.1M
$4,468Rp 78.7M
74.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.61Rp 767.8K
$39.69Rp 698.7K
9.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.17Rp 531.2K
$31.07Rp 547.0K
-2.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.3Rp 1.3M
$69.4Rp 1.2M
5.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$68.1Rp 1.2M
6.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$227Rp 4.0M
$591Rp 10.4M
-61.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$153Rp 2.7M
$361Rp 6.4M
-57.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$553Rp 9.7M
$1,858Rp 32.7M
-70.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366Rp 6.4M
$906Rp 15.9M
-59.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,199Rp 21.1M
$1,463Rp 25.8M
-18.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$669Rp 11.8M
$1,200Rp 21.1M
-44.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sibolga
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$279Rp 4.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
13.78
-31.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sibolga: September 6, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $227 in Sibolga and $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Sibolga vs $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $239 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 in Denpasar, Bali?
Sibolga and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($631 vs $937 including rent). Sibolga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Sibolga compared to Denpasar, Bali?
You'd need roughly $947 in Sibolga and $1,405 in Denpasar, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Sibolga and in Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $227 in Sibolga versus $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Denpasar, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sibolga or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $631 per month in Sibolga versus $937 in Denpasar, Bali – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $631 in Sibolga versus $937 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 48% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.