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: $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $657 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,031 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,404 in Palembang.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 159% more expensive than Palembang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above, Palembang is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 Rp 74.0K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

245.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.93 Rp 695.2K

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

121.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 Rp 106.9K

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

90.76%

Cappuccino

$3.39 Rp 60.6K

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

142.14%

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

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

65.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 Rp 15.8K

$0.28 Rp 5,004

214.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 Rp 63.1K

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

92.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 Rp 81.9K

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

27.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

39.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 Rp 47.5K

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

129.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 21.5K

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

-14.18%

Eggs

$2.53 Rp 45.2K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

110.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.46 Rp 276.0K

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

93.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 Rp 81.4K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

45.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.51 Rp 223.4K

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

43.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 Rp 69.6K

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

63.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

13.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 Rp 52.0K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

53.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 42.4K

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

59.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.8K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

49.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 42.4K

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

22.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 Rp 19.3K

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

11.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

$0.50 Rp 8,973

48.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.6K

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

34.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.10 Rp 448.3K

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

15.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.6K

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

48.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.8K

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

-8.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 Rp 6,057

$0.47 Rp 8,466

-27.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.40 Rp 185.7K

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

6.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

$0.52 Rp 9,363

15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 Rp 9,583

$0.37 Rp 6,685

45.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 Rp 135.0K

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

155.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

37.33%

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

$32.2K Rp 574.5M

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

32.61%

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

$39.4K Rp 703.6M

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

40.02%

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

$87.6 Rp 1.6M

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

25.52%

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

$4.34 Rp 77.5K

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

2.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.50 Rp 473.2K

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

12.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 Rp 2.0M

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

377.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.62 Rp 136.1K

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

27.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 Rp 85.2K

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

56.91%

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

$347 Rp 6.2M

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

275.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,491 Rp 133.8M

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

-0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 Rp 1.1M

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

43.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.64 Rp 761.4K

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

36.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 Rp 1.7M

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

44.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.2 Rp 1.5M

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

15.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 Rp 23.8M

$257 Rp 4.6M

418.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 Rp 16.5M

$157 Rp 2.8M

487.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,567 Rp 81.6M

$584 Rp 10.4M

682.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,786 Rp 49.8M

$331 Rp 5.9M

741.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,712 Rp 66.3M

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

175.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,139 Rp 56.1M

$783 Rp 14.0M

300.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 Rp 5.5M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali and $257 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $18.00 in Palembang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $214 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

Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali and $986 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $257 in Palembang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,700 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $657 in Palembang – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

At $657 in Palembang versus $1,700 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.