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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $661 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,043 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,426 in Palembang.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 166% more expensive than in Palembang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above, Palembang is 51% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27 Rp 76.5K
$1.20 Rp 21.6K
255.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.90 Rp 715.8K
$17.90 Rp 321.1K
122.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 Rp 110.4K
$3.05 Rp 54.7K
101.97%
Cappuccino
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$1.40 Rp 25.2K
135.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 Rp 29.1K
$0.90 Rp 16.2K
80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
$0.26 Rp 4,653
242.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.53 Rp 63.4K
$1.79 Rp 32.0K
97.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 Rp 85.3K
$3.75 Rp 67.2K
26.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 Rp 33.6K
$1.31 Rp 23.5K
42.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 Rp 47.2K
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
139.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
$1.38 Rp 24.7K
-7.97%
Eggs
$2.57 Rp 46.1K
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
102.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.13 Rp 271.4K
$7.96 Rp 142.9K
90.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.37 Rp 78.4K
$3.14 Rp 56.3K
39.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.43 Rp 222.9K
$8.48 Rp 152.2K
46.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.1K
$2.30 Rp 41.3K
72.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 Rp 52.0K
$1.85 Rp 33.3K
56.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.1K
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
49.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.9K
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
45.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 41.3K
$1.98 Rp 35.5K
16.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 Rp 19.4K
$0.97 Rp 17.4K
11.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
$0.50 Rp 9,028
62.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.9K
$2.42 Rp 43.5K
35.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.45 Rp 438.6K
$20.22 Rp 362.7K
20.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 Rp 51.9K
$2.05 Rp 36.8K
40.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.5K
$3.23 Rp 57.9K
-11.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 Rp 6,506
$0.48 Rp 8,661
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 Rp 184.5K
$9.59 Rp 172.1K
7.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.34 Rp 6,143
67.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.63 Rp 136.8K
$2.84 Rp 50.9K
168.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
39.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.0M
$24.8K Rp 445.6M
29.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K Rp 722.3M
$28.1K Rp 503.8M
43.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.2 Rp 1.6M
$70.2 Rp 1.3M
25.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47 Rp 80.2K
$4.18 Rp 74.9K
6.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.05 Rp 467.4K
$23.42 Rp 420.1K
11.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 Rp 2.1M
$22.79 Rp 408.7K
405.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75 Rp 139.1K
$6.02 Rp 108.0K
28.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 Rp 84.3K
$2.98 Rp 53.5K
57.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 Rp 6.1M
$94.2 Rp 1.7M
259.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,595 Rp 136.3M
$7,485 Rp 134.3M
1.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 Rp 1.1M
$41.82 Rp 750.1K
45.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.63 Rp 764.8K
$30.61 Rp 549.1K
39.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 Rp 1.8M
$65.9 Rp 1.2M
48.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$72.9 Rp 1.3M
18.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 Rp 24.6M
$262 Rp 4.7M
422.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 Rp 16.5M
$158 Rp 2.8M
481.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,495 Rp 80.6M
$593 Rp 10.6M
657.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,803 Rp 50.3M
$328 Rp 5.9M
754.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,751 Rp 67.3M
$976 Rp 17.5M
284.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,040 Rp 54.5M
$601 Rp 10.8M
405.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Palembang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$300 Rp 5.4M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026

Last update for Palembang: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali and $262 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $18.00 in Palembang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $210 per month, with Palembang 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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palembang cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali?
Palembang 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 $991 in Palembang 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 Palembang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $262 in Palembang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Uluwatu, Bali and in Palembang?
All in, you'll spend $1,759 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $661 in Palembang – a 166% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 7% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Uluwatu, Bali or in Palembang?
At $661 in Palembang versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Uluwatu, Bali or Palembang more family-friendly?
For families, Palembang 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 Palembang?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Palembang 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 Palembang 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.

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