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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $668 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,023 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,378 in Ambon.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 155% more expensive than Ambon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above, Ambon is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.14 Rp 74.0K
$0.96 Rp 17.2K
331.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93 Rp 695.2K
$12.24 Rp 218.5K
218.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.99 Rp 106.9K
$3.32 Rp 59.3K
80.42%
Cappuccino
$3.39 Rp 60.6K
$1.66 Rp 29.7K
104.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
$0.54 Rp 9,671
198.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
$0.24 Rp 4,282
266.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.53 Rp 63.1K
$2.53 Rp 45.1K
39.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 Rp 81.9K
$3.49 Rp 62.3K
31.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
$1.23 Rp 21.9K
48.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 Rp 47.5K
$1.17 Rp 20.8K
127.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
$0.93 Rp 16.5K
30.11%
Eggs
$2.53 Rp 45.2K
$1.59 Rp 28.4K
59.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.46 Rp 276.0K
$7.96 Rp 142.1K
94.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 Rp 81.4K
$3.14 Rp 56.1K
45.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.51 Rp 223.4K
$7.84 Rp 140.0K
59.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.90 Rp 69.6K
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
69.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
9.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 Rp 52.0K
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
61.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 42.4K
$1.54 Rp 27.6K
54.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.8K
$1.32 Rp 23.6K
56.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
$1.95 Rp 34.8K
21.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$0.41 Rp 7,310
80.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.6K
$2.45 Rp 43.7K
33.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.10 Rp 448.3K
$21.81 Rp 389.4K
15.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
$2.08 Rp 37.2K
44.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
$3.11 Rp 55.6K
-6.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 Rp 6,057
$0.30 Rp 5,302
13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.40 Rp 185.7K
$10.07 Rp 179.8K
3.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
$0.53 Rp 9,472
13.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 Rp 9,583
$0.34 Rp 6,137
58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.56 Rp 135.0K
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
160.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
33.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K Rp 574.5M
$24.1K Rp 430.3M
33.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K Rp 703.6M
$27.7K Rp 494.3M
42.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
23.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.50 Rp 473.2K
$22.70 Rp 405.3K
16.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 Rp 2.0M
$23.39 Rp 417.7K
378.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.62 Rp 136.1K
$6.25 Rp 111.6K
21.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.77 Rp 85.2K
$3.02 Rp 53.9K
57.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$347 Rp 6.2M
$93.0 Rp 1.7M
272.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,491 Rp 133.8M
$7,536 Rp 134.6M
-0.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
$41.81 Rp 746.6K
44.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64 Rp 761.4K
$30.35 Rp 542.0K
40.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.5 Rp 1.7M
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
43.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2 Rp 1.5M
$73.0 Rp 1.3M
16.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 Rp 23.8M
$261 Rp 4.7M
411.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$921 Rp 16.5M
$159 Rp 2.8M
481.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,567 Rp 81.6M
$594 Rp 10.6M
669.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,786 Rp 49.8M
$335 Rp 6.0M
731.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,712 Rp 66.3M
$1,080 Rp 19.3M
243.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,139 Rp 56.1M
$711 Rp 12.7M
341.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$175 Rp 3.1M
-
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ambon: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali and $261 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $12.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $209 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 155% 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 vs Ambon?
You'd need roughly $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,001 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 vs Ambon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $261 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 $1,700 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $668 in Ambon – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Uluwatu, Bali vs 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 Ambon?
At $668 in Ambon versus $1,700 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 155% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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