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