Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Surakarta versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $834 in Surakarta versus $1,545 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,146 in Surakarta versus $2,186 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Surakarta costs roughly 42% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surakarta 62% lower, Denpasar, Bali 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 Rp 30.3K

$2.33 Rp 41.1K

-26.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.71 Rp 207.1K

$25.80 Rp 456.2K

-54.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 Rp 55.0K

$3.76 Rp 66.5K

-17.29%

Cappuccino

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

$1.83 Rp 32.3K

-17.49%

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

$0.50 Rp 8,818

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

-56.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,454

$0.54 Rp 9,617

-53.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

$1.83 Rp 32.3K

-24.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.3K

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

-0.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 Rp 16.5K

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

-27.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$1.86 Rp 32.8K

-58.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 Rp 12.4K

$0.95 Rp 16.7K

-26.32%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.71 Rp 30.3K

-40.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.59 Rp 134.2K

$14.24 Rp 251.8K

-46.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$3.16 Rp 55.8K

-44.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 Rp 96.7K

$10.16 Rp 179.7K

-46.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.2K

$2.91 Rp 51.4K

-27.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

-1.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$1.87 Rp 33.0K

2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 Rp 25.6K

$1.65 Rp 29.1K

-12.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

$1.47 Rp 25.9K

-6.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.2K

$1.98 Rp 35.1K

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

-32.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,217

$0.42 Rp 7,360

-2.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 Rp 35.7K

$1.83 Rp 32.3K

10.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.56 Rp 151.4K

$19.06 Rp 337.0K

-55.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 Rp 29.7K

$1.86 Rp 32.9K

-9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.2K

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

25.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,834

$0.22 Rp 3,887

77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.46 Rp 397.2K

$7.39 Rp 130.7K

203.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,378

$0.43 Rp 7,614

9.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 Rp 7,754

$0.43 Rp 7,561

2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 Rp 47.8K

$3.20 Rp 56.5K

-15.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

13.04%

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

$25.3K Rp 447.3M

$22.5K Rp 398.5M

12.26%

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

$32.6K Rp 575.7M

$28.5K Rp 504.3M

14.14%

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

$81.0 Rp 1.4M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

11.11%

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

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

$5.79 Rp 102.4K

-63.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.10 Rp 337.7K

$16.73 Rp 295.8K

14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.35 Rp 289.1K

$40.09 Rp 709.0K

-59.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.70 Rp 153.8K

$12.87 Rp 227.6K

-32.40%

Cinema Ticket

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$3.19 Rp 56.4K

-39.18%

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

$33.41 Rp 590.9K

$382 Rp 6.8M

-91.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,888 Rp 33.4M

$4,414 Rp 78.1M

-57.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 Rp 1.1M

$39.21 Rp 693.3K

53.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.27 Rp 659.1K

$30.71 Rp 543.0K

21.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 Rp 1.2M

$69.1 Rp 1.2M

1.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$68.0 Rp 1.2M

-0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$602 Rp 10.6M

-72.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.7K

$358 Rp 6.3M

-84.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 Rp 6.0M

$1,879 Rp 33.2M

-81.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 Rp 3.5M

$893 Rp 15.8M

-78.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,433 Rp 25.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,191 Rp 21.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$161 Rp 2.9M

$285 Rp 5.0M

-43.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

13.78

-45.57%

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

Last update for Surakarta: August 31, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Surakarta and $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 77% 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: $12.00 in Surakarta vs $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $238 per month, with Surakarta 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

Surakarta vs Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surakarta and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($522 vs $904 including rent). Surakarta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Denpasar, Bali. 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: $167 in Surakarta versus $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $522 per month in Surakarta versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surakarta runs roughly 204% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $522 in Surakarta versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Surakarta but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Surakarta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Surakarta 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.

Expats usually find Surakarta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.