Cost of Living Comparison Between Uluwatu, Bali and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Uluwatu, Bali and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,730 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $583 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,196 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $906 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,662 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $1,229 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Uluwatu, Bali costs about 197% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Uluwatu, Bali sits 30% above the global median, while Banda Aceh is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.25 Rp 76.8K

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

172.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.65 Rp 698.9K

$12.45 Rp 225.1K

210.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 Rp 110.9K

$3.28 Rp 59.4K

86.89%

Cappuccino

$3.43 Rp 62.1K

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

198.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 Rp 29.4K

$0.51 Rp 9,301

219.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 Rp 16.3K

$0.28 Rp 5,071

221.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.66 Rp 66.1K

$2.44 Rp 44.0K

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 Rp 85.6K

$3.51 Rp 63.4K

34.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 Rp 33.1K

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

53.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 Rp 46.3K

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

116.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.7K

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

87.50%

Eggs

$2.58 Rp 46.7K

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

67.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.55 Rp 281.2K

$8.00 Rp 144.6K

94.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 Rp 79.1K

$3.13 Rp 56.6K

39.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 227.0K

$7.96 Rp 144.0K

57.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 Rp 72.8K

$2.34 Rp 42.3K

71.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 Rp 30.4K

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 Rp 53.2K

$1.79 Rp 32.5K

64.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 Rp 44.5K

$1.49 Rp 27.0K

65.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 36.7K

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

53.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.5K

$1.96 Rp 35.5K

17.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.3K

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

20.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

$0.45 Rp 8,128

82.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 Rp 61.7K

$2.56 Rp 46.3K

33.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.26 Rp 438.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 54.2K

$2.03 Rp 36.8K

47.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 Rp 54.6K

$3.21 Rp 58.0K

-5.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 6,053

$0.30 Rp 5,390

10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.49 Rp 189.7K

$9.73 Rp 176.0K

7.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 Rp 10.9K

$0.53 Rp 9,557

13.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 Rp 9,649

$0.34 Rp 6,211

55.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 Rp 142.1K

$2.85 Rp 51.5K

175.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

75.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.5K Rp 586.9M

$24.9K Rp 450.4M

30.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.6K Rp 734.7M

$27.7K Rp 500.4M

46.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

$70.1 Rp 1.3M

26.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.53 Rp 81.9K

$4.20 Rp 76.0K

7.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.81 Rp 484.8K

$23.02 Rp 416.2K

16.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 Rp 2.0M

$23.46 Rp 424.2K

381.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.55 Rp 136.5K

$6.13 Rp 110.9K

23.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 Rp 85.0K

$3.03 Rp 54.7K

55.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$339 Rp 6.1M

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

264.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,643 Rp 138.2M

$7,626 Rp 137.9M

0.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 Rp 1.1M

$31.92 Rp 577.1K

87.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 Rp 754.8K

$23.38 Rp 422.8K

78.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 Rp 1.7M

$35.46 Rp 641.1K

168.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 Rp 1.6M

$34.16 Rp 617.6K

151.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 Rp 24.0M

$258 Rp 4.7M

415.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 Rp 16.3M

$158 Rp 2.9M

471.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,527 Rp 81.9M

$579 Rp 10.5M

681.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,827 Rp 51.1M

$337 Rp 6.1M

739.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,685 Rp 66.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,998 Rp 54.2M

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 26, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,328 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $258 in Banda Aceh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $12.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $165 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Uluwatu, Bali is pricier by about 197%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,595 per month in Uluwatu, Bali and $874 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $339 per month in Uluwatu, Bali and $93.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 91% more in Uluwatu, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,730. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.