😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $668 in Ambon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,017 in Ambon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,367 in Ambon.
🌍Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 163% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above, Ambon is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27Rp 76.5K
$0.96Rp 17.3K
344.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.90Rp 715.8K
$12.48Rp 223.8K
219.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16Rp 110.4K
$3.31Rp 59.3K
86.10%
Cappuccino
$3.29Rp 58.9K
$1.68Rp 30.1K
95.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62Rp 29.1K
$0.55Rp 9,893
194.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Rp 15.9K
$0.26Rp 4,695
242.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53Rp 63.4K
$2.51Rp 45.1K
40.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76Rp 85.3K
$3.50Rp 62.8K
36.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87Rp 33.6K
$1.17Rp 21.0K
59.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63Rp 47.2K
$1.17Rp 21.0K
124.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.7K
$0.88Rp 15.8K
44.32%
Eggs
$2.57Rp 46.1K
$1.53Rp 27.5K
67.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.13Rp 271.4K
$8.18Rp 146.7K
84.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.37Rp 78.4K
$3.09Rp 55.5K
41.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.43Rp 222.9K
$8.04Rp 144.2K
54.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.96Rp 71.1K
$2.31Rp 41.4K
71.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.44Rp 25.8K
13.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90Rp 52.0K
$1.80Rp 32.3K
61.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35Rp 42.1K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
51.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.9K
$1.33Rp 23.8K
50.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30Rp 41.3K
$1.97Rp 35.4K
16.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08Rp 19.4K
$0.95Rp 17.1K
13.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Rp 14.5K
$0.44Rp 7,973
84.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.9K
$2.53Rp 45.3K
29.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.45Rp 438.6K
$19.83Rp 355.7K
23.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89Rp 51.9K
$2.13Rp 38.1K
35.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 51.5K
$3.09Rp 55.5K
-7.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36Rp 6,506
$0.32Rp 5,789
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.28Rp 184.5K
$10.00Rp 179.4K
2.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.58Rp 10.3K
-1.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.34Rp 6,173
67.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.63Rp 136.8K
$2.84Rp 51.0K
168.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$0.82Rp 14.6K
29.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KRp 577.0M
$24.6KRp 440.6M
30.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KRp 722.3M
$28.0KRp 501.5M
44.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.2Rp 1.6M
$68.6Rp 1.2M
28.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47Rp 80.2K
$4.23Rp 75.8K
5.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.05Rp 467.4K
$22.66Rp 406.5K
14.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$115Rp 2.1M
$22.66Rp 406.4K
408.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75Rp 139.1K
$6.02Rp 108.0K
28.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70Rp 84.3K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
52.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$339Rp 6.1M
$93.2Rp 1.7M
263.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,595Rp 136.3M
$7,695Rp 138.0M
-1.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8Rp 1.1M
$41.17Rp 738.6K
47.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.63Rp 764.8K
$30.46Rp 546.4K
39.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9Rp 1.8M
$67.6Rp 1.2M
44.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$74.5Rp 1.3M
15.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,369Rp 24.6M
$258Rp 4.6M
431.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920Rp 16.5M
$157Rp 2.8M
484.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,495Rp 80.6M
$584Rp 10.5M
669.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,803Rp 50.3M
$327Rp 5.9M
756.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,751Rp 67.3M
$1,059Rp 19.0M
254.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,040Rp 54.5M
$671Rp 12.0M
353.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$167Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ambon: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali and $258 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $12.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $206 per month, with Ambon 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
Uluwatu, Bali vs Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Uluwatu, Bali or Ambon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 163% lower than in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Uluwatu, Bali and in Ambon?
You'd need roughly $2,638 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,002 in Ambon 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Ambon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $258 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Ambon?
All in, you'll spend $1,759 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $668 in Ambon – a 163% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Ambon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 3% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Uluwatu, Bali or in Ambon?
At $668 in Ambon versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Uluwatu, Bali or Ambon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $668 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.
How safe is Uluwatu, Bali compared to Ambon?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Ambon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Uluwatu, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared