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