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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $660 per month in Surakarta vs $1,744 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Surakarta vs $3,142 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,343 per month in Surakarta vs $4,540 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

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

Surakarta sits 51% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.59 Rp 28.4K
$4.17 Rp 74.7K
-61.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.17 Rp 218.1K
$38.98 Rp 698.4K
-68.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.10 Rp 55.6K
$5.93 Rp 106.2K
-47.72%
Cappuccino
$1.67 Rp 29.9K
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
-49.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
$1.66 Rp 29.8K
-66.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,841
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
-69.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
$3.52 Rp 63.0K
-48.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 Rp 53.6K
$4.61 Rp 82.5K
-35.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$1.88 Rp 33.6K
-38.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 Rp 15.0K
$2.66 Rp 47.7K
-68.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
$1.19 Rp 21.4K
-36.97%
Eggs
$1.25 Rp 22.4K
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-49.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 Rp 161.5K
$15.09 Rp 270.3K
-40.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.87 Rp 51.5K
$4.40 Rp 78.9K
-34.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.15 Rp 128.2K
$12.47 Rp 223.5K
-42.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$3.89 Rp 69.7K
-41.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.7K
$1.69 Rp 30.2K
-8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 Rp 37.7K
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-25.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 Rp 24.2K
$2.41 Rp 43.2K
-43.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
$2.02 Rp 36.1K
-32.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 29.4K
$2.36 Rp 42.4K
-30.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
-40.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,642
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
-46.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
$3.46 Rp 62.1K
-36.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.04 Rp 144.1K
$24.07 Rp 431.3K
-66.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 Rp 32.9K
$2.97 Rp 53.2K
-38.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$2.85 Rp 51.1K
15.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 Rp 7,500
$0.33 Rp 5,990
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.86 Rp 176.6K
$10.26 Rp 183.9K
-3.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,921
$0.61 Rp 11.0K
-27.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,622
$0.53 Rp 9,557
-41.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 Rp 50.1K
$7.86 Rp 140.7K
-64.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
-19.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K Rp 369.9M
$32.7K Rp 585.0M
-36.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K Rp 625.7M
$39.5K Rp 708.5M
-11.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.6 Rp 1.5M
$86.4 Rp 1.5M
-2.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
$4.38 Rp 78.5K
-49.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.39 Rp 347.4K
$25.99 Rp 465.7K
-25.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.74 Rp 353.7K
$113 Rp 2.0M
-82.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.01 Rp 107.7K
$7.77 Rp 139.1K
-22.65%
Cinema Ticket
$2.21 Rp 39.7K
$4.82 Rp 86.4K
-54.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.15 Rp 665.5K
$339 Rp 6.1M
-89.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,032 Rp 36.4M
$7,366 Rp 132.0M
-72.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 Rp 1.1M
$58.6 Rp 1.0M
4.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.27 Rp 685.7K
$41.81 Rp 749.0K
-8.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$95.0 Rp 1.7M
-17.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
$86.5 Rp 1.6M
-16.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 Rp 4.6M
$1,375 Rp 24.6M
-81.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 Rp 2.8M
$919 Rp 16.5M
-82.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$585 Rp 10.5M
$4,635 Rp 83.0M
-87.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 Rp 5.9M
$2,804 Rp 50.2M
-88.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,664 Rp 65.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,073 Rp 55.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surakarta
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$158 Rp 2.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
13.28
-37.27%

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

Last update for Surakarta: June 8, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Surakarta versus $1,375 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 Surakarta versus $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $311 – making Surakarta 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
Surakarta vs Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Surakarta and Uluwatu, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $660 in Surakarta, $1,744 in Uluwatu, Bali – roughly 164% apart. Uluwatu, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surakarta compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $990 per month in Surakarta and $2,615 in Uluwatu, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surakarta and Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Surakarta and Uluwatu, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $37.15 per month in Surakarta and $339 in Uluwatu, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 79% more in Uluwatu, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,744. In Surakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Surakarta and Uluwatu, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Uluwatu, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $660 in Surakarta to $1,744 in Uluwatu, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Surakarta or Uluwatu, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Surakarta and Uluwatu, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. 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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