😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $660 in Batam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,103 in Batam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,546 in Batam.
🌍Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 166% more expensive than in Batam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above, Batam is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27Rp 76.7K
$2.79Rp 50.1K
53.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.90Rp 717.1K
$9.30Rp 167.2K
329.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16Rp 110.6K
$3.54Rp 63.5K
74.01%
Cappuccino
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$2.21Rp 39.7K
48.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62Rp 29.2K
$1.33Rp 24.0K
21.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Rp 15.9K
$0.41Rp 7,356
117.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53Rp 63.5K
$2.80Rp 50.4K
26.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76Rp 85.5K
$4.02Rp 72.3K
18.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87Rp 33.7K
$1.21Rp 21.8K
54.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63Rp 47.3K
$1.21Rp 21.8K
117.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$0.85Rp 15.3K
49.41%
Eggs
$2.57Rp 46.1K
$1.36Rp 24.4K
88.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.13Rp 271.9K
$8.11Rp 145.7K
86.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.37Rp 78.6K
$2.66Rp 47.7K
64.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.43Rp 223.3K
$4.82Rp 86.7K
157.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.96Rp 71.2K
$2.38Rp 42.7K
66.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.3K
$2.26Rp 40.6K
-27.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90Rp 52.1K
$2.18Rp 39.2K
33.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35Rp 42.2K
$1.10Rp 19.8K
113.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00Rp 36.0K
$1.01Rp 18.1K
98.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30Rp 41.4K
$2.16Rp 38.8K
6.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08Rp 19.4K
$1.46Rp 26.3K
-26.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$0.40Rp 7,100
102.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 59.0K
$2.65Rp 47.7K
23.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.45Rp 439.4K
$13.68Rp 245.8K
78.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89Rp 52.0K
$1.97Rp 35.5K
46.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 51.6K
$2.64Rp 47.4K
8.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36Rp 6,518
$0.47Rp 8,417
-23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.28Rp 184.8K
$16.91Rp 303.8K
-39.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$1.26Rp 22.6K
-54.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.65Rp 11.7K
-12.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.63Rp 137.0K
$3.72Rp 66.9K
105.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$0.83Rp 14.9K
27.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.0M
$29.7KRp 533.1M
8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KRp 723.6M
$19.2KRp 344.2M
110.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.2Rp 1.6M
$77.8Rp 1.4M
13.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47Rp 80.4K
$3.96Rp 71.2K
12.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.05Rp 468.2K
$25.92Rp 465.8K
0.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$115Rp 2.1M
$30.33Rp 545.1K
280.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75Rp 139.3K
$8.04Rp 144.6K
-3.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70Rp 84.5K
$3.08Rp 55.4K
52.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$339Rp 6.1M
$93.3Rp 1.7M
263.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,595Rp 136.5M
$3,643Rp 65.5M
108.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8Rp 1.1M
$35.31Rp 634.6K
72.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.63Rp 766.1K
$20.55Rp 369.3K
107.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9Rp 1.8M
$72.4Rp 1.3M
35.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$26.40Rp 474.4K
225.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,369Rp 24.6M
$294Rp 5.3M
365.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920Rp 16.5M
$166Rp 3.0M
453.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,495Rp 80.8M
$890Rp 16.0M
405.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,803Rp 50.4M
$560Rp 10.1M
400.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,751Rp 67.4M
$550Rp 9.9M
581.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,040Rp 54.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$334Rp 6.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
13.88
-4.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026
Last update for Batam: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali and $294 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $185 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,638 in Uluwatu, Bali and $990 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: $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $294 in Batam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Batam runs roughly 64% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $339 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $93.3 in Batam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Uluwatu, Bali or in Batam?
At $660 in Batam versus $1,759 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 166% 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