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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $616 in Batam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,017 in Batam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,418 in Batam.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 173% more expensive than in Batam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above, Batam is 55% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 Rp 72.8K
$2.01 Rp 35.5K
104.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.57 Rp 771.5K
$8.68 Rp 153.7K
401.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.64 Rp 117.6K
$4.07 Rp 72.0K
63.14%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Rp 59.8K
$2.14 Rp 38.0K
57.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 Rp 38.8K
$0.62 Rp 11.1K
253.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.31 Rp 5,506
225.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 Rp 63.1K
$2.60 Rp 46.0K
36.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.43 Rp 96.1K
$3.72 Rp 65.9K
45.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 Rp 29.4K
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
43.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
$1.09 Rp 19.3K
125.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
55.13%
Eggs
$2.29 Rp 40.6K
$1.30 Rp 23.1K
76.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.21 Rp 322.4K
$7.71 Rp 136.5K
136.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.21 Rp 74.5K
$2.54 Rp 45.0K
65.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 Rp 231.4K
$4.61 Rp 81.6K
183.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.91 Rp 69.3K
$2.19 Rp 38.7K
78.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$2.09 Rp 37.0K
-22.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 Rp 43.8K
$2.06 Rp 36.6K
19.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
94.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$0.97 Rp 17.2K
95.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 Rp 45.8K
$1.99 Rp 35.3K
30.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
$1.33 Rp 23.6K
-20.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 9,996
$0.45 Rp 8,033
24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 Rp 42.6K
$2.76 Rp 48.8K
-12.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 Rp 428.6K
$13.89 Rp 245.9K
74.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 Rp 44.2K
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
$2.49 Rp 44.1K
24.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 Rp 5,577
$0.41 Rp 7,309
-24.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 Rp 181.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 Rp 10.2K
$0.60 Rp 10.6K
-3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 Rp 47.5K
$3.58 Rp 63.3K
-24.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.79 Rp 14.0K
27.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K Rp 536.2M
$28.5K Rp 504.0M
6.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K Rp 696.4M
$24.7K Rp 438.2M
58.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.9 Rp 1.6M
$72.0 Rp 1.3M
24.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.40 Rp 131.0K
$4.16 Rp 73.6K
77.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 Rp 363.4K
$23.70 Rp 419.6K
-13.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.8 Rp 1.2M
$26.92 Rp 476.7K
144.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.34 Rp 377.8K
$5.63 Rp 99.7K
279.04%
Cinema Ticket
$5.21 Rp 92.3K
$2.66 Rp 47.0K
95.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 Rp 9.6M
$83.4 Rp 1.5M
553.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,707 Rp 118.8M
$3,257 Rp 57.7M
105.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 Rp 904.7K
$32.47 Rp 574.9K
57.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.15 Rp 693.2K
$19.15 Rp 339.0K
104.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 Rp 1.6M
$67.0 Rp 1.2M
33.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.8 Rp 1.6M
$25.03 Rp 443.1K
250.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,556 Rp 27.6M
$274 Rp 4.8M
468.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$924 Rp 16.4M
$149 Rp 2.6M
520.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,848 Rp 85.8M
$823 Rp 14.6M
489.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,307 Rp 40.9M
$514 Rp 9.1M
349.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,720 Rp 65.9M
$556 Rp 9.8M
568.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,051 Rp 54.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$354 Rp 6.3M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
13.17
4.63%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Last update for Batam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali and $274 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $177 per month, with Batam 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 Batam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batam cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali?
Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,528 in Uluwatu, Bali and $925 in Batam 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.
What is the rent difference between Uluwatu, Bali and Batam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $274 in Batam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Uluwatu, Bali and in Batam?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Uluwatu, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Uluwatu, Bali and in Batam?
All in, you'll spend $1,685 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $616 in Batam – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Uluwatu, Bali or in Batam?
At $616 in Batam versus $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batam but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Batam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Uluwatu, Bali or Batam more family-friendly?
For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Uluwatu, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Uluwatu, Bali or Batam?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Batam 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% 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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