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: $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $658 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,038 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,417 in Ambon.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 156% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above, Ambon is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 Rp 72.8K
$1.12 Rp 19.8K
266.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.57 Rp 771.5K
$13.95 Rp 247.0K
212.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.64 Rp 117.6K
$3.91 Rp 69.3K
69.82%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Rp 59.8K
$1.50 Rp 26.6K
125.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 Rp 38.8K
$0.47 Rp 8,319
365.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.29 Rp 5,068
248.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 Rp 63.1K
$2.48 Rp 43.8K
43.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.43 Rp 96.1K
$3.49 Rp 61.8K
55.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 Rp 29.4K
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
58.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
$1.04 Rp 18.4K
136.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
$0.88 Rp 15.5K
37.50%
Eggs
$2.29 Rp 40.6K
$1.39 Rp 24.6K
64.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.21 Rp 322.4K
$7.25 Rp 128.4K
151.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.21 Rp 74.5K
$2.93 Rp 51.9K
43.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 Rp 231.4K
$7.64 Rp 135.3K
71.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.91 Rp 69.3K
$2.28 Rp 40.3K
71.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$1.32 Rp 23.4K
23.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 Rp 43.8K
$1.70 Rp 30.2K
45.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
$1.29 Rp 22.8K
59.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$1.31 Rp 23.2K
45.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 Rp 45.8K
$1.97 Rp 34.8K
31.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
35.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 9,996
$0.41 Rp 7,302
36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 Rp 42.6K
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
8.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 Rp 428.6K
$21.27 Rp 376.6K
13.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 Rp 44.2K
$1.94 Rp 34.3K
28.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
4.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 Rp 5,577
$0.24 Rp 4,243
29.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 Rp 181.9K
$16.99 Rp 300.9K
-39.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$0.50 Rp 8,778
14.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 Rp 10.2K
$0.31 Rp 5,435
87.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 Rp 47.5K
$3.34 Rp 59.2K
-19.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K Rp 536.2M
$23.0K Rp 406.6M
31.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K Rp 696.4M
$31.1K Rp 550.3M
26.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.9 Rp 1.6M
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
16.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.40 Rp 131.0K
$5.82 Rp 103.1K
27.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 Rp 363.4K
$19.77 Rp 350.1K
3.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.8 Rp 1.2M
$18.75 Rp 332.0K
250.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.34 Rp 377.8K
$7.70 Rp 136.3K
177.14%
Cinema Ticket
$5.21 Rp 92.3K
$1.38 Rp 24.5K
277.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 Rp 9.6M
$94.2 Rp 1.7M
477.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,707 Rp 118.8M
$7,888 Rp 139.7M
-14.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 Rp 904.7K
$43.70 Rp 773.8K
16.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.15 Rp 693.2K
$31.00 Rp 548.9K
26.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 Rp 1.6M
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
20.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.8 Rp 1.6M
$73.1 Rp 1.3M
20.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,556 Rp 27.6M
$262 Rp 4.6M
494.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$924 Rp 16.4M
$161 Rp 2.9M
472.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,848 Rp 85.8M
$571 Rp 10.1M
749.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,307 Rp 40.9M
$359 Rp 6.4M
542.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,720 Rp 65.9M
$1,120 Rp 19.8M
232.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,051 Rp 54.0M
$618 Rp 10.9M
394.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$126 Rp 2.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ambon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali and $262 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $14.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $196 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 156% 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 $2,528 in Uluwatu, Bali and $988 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: $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $262 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 $1,685 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $658 in Ambon – a 156% 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 65% 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 $658 in Ambon versus $1,685 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 $658 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 156% 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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