😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $664 in Batam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,132 in Batam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,600 in Batam.
😐Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 156% more expensive than Batam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above, Batam is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.14Rp 74.3K
$2.78Rp 49.8K
48.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93Rp 697.9K
$9.36Rp 167.7K
315.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99Rp 107.3K
$3.63Rp 65.1K
65.01%
Cappuccino
$3.39Rp 60.8K
$2.11Rp 37.9K
60.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61Rp 28.9K
$1.28Rp 23.0K
25.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88Rp 15.9K
$0.41Rp 7,417
114.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53Rp 63.3K
$2.81Rp 50.3K
25.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59Rp 82.2K
$4.06Rp 72.8K
13.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83Rp 32.8K
$1.20Rp 21.5K
52.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66Rp 47.7K
$1.20Rp 21.6K
121.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.6K
$0.86Rp 15.4K
40.70%
Eggs
$2.53Rp 45.4K
$1.35Rp 24.2K
87.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.46Rp 277.1K
$8.05Rp 144.4K
92.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.56Rp 81.7K
$2.65Rp 47.5K
72.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.51Rp 224.2K
$4.91Rp 88.1K
154.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.90Rp 69.9K
$2.39Rp 42.9K
63.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$2.18Rp 39.2K
-25.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$2.23Rp 39.9K
30.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.6K
$1.15Rp 20.6K
106.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.9K
$0.99Rp 17.8K
108.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.6K
$2.10Rp 37.6K
12.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08Rp 19.4K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
-26.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 13.4K
$0.40Rp 7,145
85.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$2.74Rp 49.2K
19.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.10Rp 450.0K
$14.28Rp 255.9K
75.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.8K
$1.95Rp 35.0K
53.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.0K
$2.61Rp 46.7K
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34Rp 6,080
$0.47Rp 8,359
-27.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.40Rp 186.5K
$16.67Rp 298.8K
-37.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$1.21Rp 21.6K
-50.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54Rp 9,620
$0.63Rp 11.4K
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56Rp 135.5K
$3.74Rp 67.0K
102.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 18.5K
$0.76Rp 13.6K
35.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KRp 576.7M
$29.8KRp 533.5M
8.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4KRp 706.3M
$18.7KRp 335.2M
110.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.6Rp 1.6M
$75.5Rp 1.4M
16.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 77.8K
$4.13Rp 74.1K
5.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.50Rp 475.0K
$25.19Rp 451.5K
5.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$112Rp 2.0M
$29.45Rp 527.9K
280.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.62Rp 136.6K
$8.27Rp 148.3K
-7.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.77Rp 85.5K
$3.12Rp 56.0K
52.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347Rp 6.2M
$91.3Rp 1.6M
279.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,491Rp 134.3M
$3,649Rp 65.4M
105.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3Rp 1.1M
$35.38Rp 634.1K
70.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64Rp 764.3K
$20.60Rp 369.3K
106.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5Rp 1.7M
$71.9Rp 1.3M
35.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2Rp 1.5M
$26.15Rp 468.7K
225.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,335Rp 23.9M
$300Rp 5.4M
345.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921Rp 16.5M
$161Rp 2.9M
471.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,567Rp 81.9M
$915Rp 16.4M
399.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,786Rp 49.9M
$556Rp 10.0M
401.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,712Rp 66.5M
$563Rp 10.1M
559.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,139Rp 56.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$346Rp 6.2M
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Batam: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali and $300 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $186 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 156% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali and $996 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: $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $300 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 60% 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 $347 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $91.3 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 Uluwatu, Bali or Batam?
At $664 in Batam versus $1,700 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 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