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