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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,736 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $466 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,152 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $739 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,568 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $1,013 in Malang, rent included.

Uluwatu, Bali costs about 273% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Uluwatu, Bali sits 30% above the global median, while Malang is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 Rp 75.0K

$1.26 Rp 21.8K

243.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.42 Rp 665.9K

$12.23 Rp 212.0K

214.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 Rp 106.0K

$3.09 Rp 53.6K

97.73%

Cappuccino

$3.45 Rp 59.7K

$1.46 Rp 25.3K

136.30%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.0K

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

169.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 Rp 15.3K

$0.22 Rp 3,799

300.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 Rp 61.3K

$2.41 Rp 41.7K

46.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 Rp 79.6K

$2.99 Rp 51.9K

53.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 Rp 31.1K

$1.12 Rp 19.4K

60.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 Rp 44.5K

$1.45 Rp 25.1K

77.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 Rp 21.7K

$0.87 Rp 15.0K

43.68%

Eggs

$2.53 Rp 43.9K

$1.49 Rp 25.9K

69.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.00 Rp 259.9K

$6.40 Rp 110.9K

134.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 Rp 78.9K

$3.36 Rp 58.3K

35.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.59 Rp 218.3K

$7.26 Rp 125.9K

73.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 Rp 68.2K

$2.29 Rp 39.8K

72.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.5K

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

9.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 49.1K

$1.73 Rp 30.1K

63.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 Rp 42.7K

$1.48 Rp 25.6K

66.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 36.4K

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

56.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 Rp 41.6K

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

32.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.4K

$0.55 Rp 9,528

92.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 14.0K

$0.44 Rp 7,690

84.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 Rp 59.1K

$2.56 Rp 44.3K

33.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.50 Rp 424.7K

$12.97 Rp 224.9K

88.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 Rp 52.4K

$1.79 Rp 31.0K

68.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 50.3K

$3.33 Rp 57.6K

-12.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 Rp 6,330

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

-40.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.50 Rp 182.0K

$6.15 Rp 106.7K

70.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 Rp 10.5K

$0.47 Rp 8,214

29.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 Rp 9,214

$0.31 Rp 5,410

70.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 Rp 129.5K

$6.09 Rp 105.5K

22.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 Rp 17.6K

$0.83 Rp 14.4K

22.89%

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

$32.5K Rp 563.8M

$20.6K Rp 357.0M

57.93%

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

$40.8K Rp 706.9M

$27.3K Rp 472.7M

49.55%

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

$88.8 Rp 1.5M

$34.15 Rp 591.9K

160.03%

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

$4.30 Rp 74.6K

$2.55 Rp 44.2K

68.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.71 Rp 463.0K

$19.25 Rp 333.7K

38.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$114 Rp 2.0M

$14.69 Rp 254.6K

673.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 Rp 130.7K

$5.06 Rp 87.8K

49.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 Rp 83.6K

$2.20 Rp 38.2K

119.09%

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

$336 Rp 5.8M

$33.37 Rp 578.3K

906.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,640 Rp 132.4M

$9,438 Rp 163.6M

-19.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 Rp 1.0M

$42.85 Rp 742.8K

41.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 Rp 730.2K

$30.27 Rp 524.6K

39.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 Rp 1.7M

$59.5 Rp 1.0M

62.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.2 Rp 1.5M

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

3.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,345 Rp 23.3M

$160 Rp 2.8M

739.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$890 Rp 15.4M

$48.52 Rp 840.9K

1734.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,556 Rp 79.0M

$281 Rp 4.9M

1521.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,822 Rp 48.9M

$91.6 Rp 1.6M

2979.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,025 Rp 69.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,190 Rp 55.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 Rp 3.6M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

232.00%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Malang: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,345 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $160 in Malang. 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 $38.00 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $12.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $184 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Uluwatu, Bali is pricier by about 273%, 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 $2,604 per month in Uluwatu, Bali and $698 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 71% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $336 per month in Uluwatu, Bali and $33.37 in Malang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,736. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malang – 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 Malang. 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.