😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $630 in Pekanbaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,887 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $998 in Pekanbaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,082 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,367 in Pekanbaru.
🌍Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 169% more expensive than in Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above, Pekanbaru is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21Rp 74.8K
$1.42Rp 25.3K
196.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.88Rp 832.8K
$8.31Rp 147.7K
464.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.86Rp 121.8K
$2.23Rp 39.7K
207.62%
Cappuccino
$3.25Rp 57.7K
$1.27Rp 22.5K
155.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 35.7K
$0.42Rp 7,533
378.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$0.22Rp 3,889
295.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21Rp 57.1K
$1.96Rp 34.9K
63.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00Rp 88.8K
$3.02Rp 53.7K
65.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.6K
$1.32Rp 23.5K
21.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40Rp 42.6K
$1.16Rp 20.6K
106.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22Rp 21.6K
$0.83Rp 14.7K
46.99%
Eggs
$2.22Rp 39.5K
$1.72Rp 30.5K
29.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.63Rp 330.9K
$7.24Rp 128.7K
157.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.27Rp 75.8K
$2.50Rp 44.4K
70.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.94Rp 229.8K
$6.75Rp 119.9K
91.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.1K
$2.64Rp 46.9K
45.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.66Rp 29.6K
-2.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46Rp 43.7K
$2.38Rp 42.3K
3.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07Rp 36.8K
$1.27Rp 22.6K
62.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.0K
$1.30Rp 23.2K
46.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.52Rp 44.8K
$2.03Rp 36.0K
24.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.8K
$0.74Rp 13.2K
43.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.4K
$0.37Rp 6,512
59.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46Rp 43.7K
$2.18Rp 38.7K
12.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.68Rp 438.4K
$20.35Rp 361.6K
21.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46Rp 43.6K
$1.84Rp 32.6K
33.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01Rp 53.5K
$2.95Rp 52.3K
2.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,667
$0.29Rp 5,171
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.57Rp 187.8K
$8.60Rp 152.8K
22.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61Rp 10.9K
$0.95Rp 16.8K
-35.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60Rp 10.6K
$0.37Rp 6,493
62.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.56Rp 45.5K
$2.95Rp 52.5K
-13.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$0.74Rp 13.1K
39.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KRp 548.7M
$22.8KRp 405.3M
35.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7KRp 706.2M
$26.8KRp 476.2M
48.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.1Rp 1.6M
$63.4Rp 1.1M
42.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.01Rp 124.5K
$6.32Rp 112.3K
10.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.74Rp 368.5K
$23.43Rp 416.2K
-11.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.9Rp 1.1M
$28.64Rp 508.8K
123.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.78Rp 387.0K
$8.34Rp 148.2K
161.15%
Cinema Ticket
$5.23Rp 92.9K
$3.02Rp 53.7K
73.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$553Rp 9.8M
$94.8Rp 1.7M
483.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,619Rp 117.6M
$7,876Rp 139.9M
-15.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9Rp 904.0K
$27.56Rp 489.6K
84.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.71Rp 705.4K
$30.07Rp 534.2K
32.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7Rp 1.6M
$56.5Rp 1.0M
58.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5Rp 1.5M
$80.5Rp 1.4M
7.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,546Rp 27.5M
$193Rp 3.4M
702.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$925Rp 16.4M
$153Rp 2.7M
505.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,743Rp 84.3M
$562Rp 10.0M
744.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,298Rp 40.8M
$370Rp 6.6M
521.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,748Rp 66.6M
$1,260Rp 22.4M
197.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,055Rp 54.3M
$668Rp 11.9M
357.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$181Rp 3.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: August 31, 2026
Last update for Pekanbaru: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,546 in Uluwatu, Bali and $193 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $8.00 in Pekanbaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $200 per month, with Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pekanbaru cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali?
Pekanbaru is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 169% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,538 in Uluwatu, Bali and $945 in Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,546 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $193 in Pekanbaru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Uluwatu, Bali or in Pekanbaru?
Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Uluwatu, Bali and in Pekanbaru?
All in, you'll spend $1,692 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $630 in Pekanbaru – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Uluwatu, Bali or in Pekanbaru?
At $630 in Pekanbaru versus $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pekanbaru but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pekanbaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Uluwatu, Bali or Pekanbaru more family-friendly?
For families, Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% 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