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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $681 in Pekanbaru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $970 in Pekanbaru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,258 in Pekanbaru.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 158% more expensive than in Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above, Pekanbaru is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27 Rp 76.5K
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
173.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.90 Rp 715.8K
$8.68 Rp 155.6K
359.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 Rp 110.4K
$2.49 Rp 44.7K
147.39%
Cappuccino
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$1.42 Rp 25.5K
131.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 Rp 29.1K
$0.47 Rp 8,369
244.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
$0.26 Rp 4,666
242.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.53 Rp 63.4K
$2.14 Rp 38.4K
64.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 Rp 85.3K
$3.43 Rp 61.5K
38.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 Rp 33.6K
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
39.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 Rp 47.2K
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
119.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
$1.02 Rp 18.4K
24.51%
Eggs
$2.57 Rp 46.1K
$1.78 Rp 31.9K
44.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.13 Rp 271.4K
$16.88 Rp 302.8K
-10.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.37 Rp 78.4K
$2.61 Rp 46.9K
67.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.43 Rp 222.9K
$10.40 Rp 186.6K
19.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.1K
$2.96 Rp 53.0K
33.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
-2.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 Rp 52.0K
$2.01 Rp 36.1K
44.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.1K
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
164.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.9K
$1.00 Rp 17.9K
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 41.3K
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 Rp 19.4K
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
-31.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
$0.41 Rp 7,385
97.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.9K
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
42.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.45 Rp 438.6K
$19.82 Rp 355.6K
23.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 Rp 51.9K
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
5.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.5K
$3.87 Rp 69.5K
-25.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 Rp 6,506
$0.30 Rp 5,301
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 Rp 184.5K
$9.33 Rp 167.4K
10.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
-35.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.40 Rp 7,206
42.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.63 Rp 136.8K
$2.18 Rp 39.1K
250.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
37.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.0M
$23.2K Rp 415.6M
38.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K Rp 722.3M
$25.5K Rp 456.6M
58.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.2 Rp 1.6M
$70.3 Rp 1.3M
25.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47 Rp 80.2K
$6.58 Rp 118.0K
-32.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.05 Rp 467.4K
$27.97 Rp 501.7K
-6.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 Rp 2.1M
$23.15 Rp 415.3K
397.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75 Rp 139.1K
$12.41 Rp 222.6K
-37.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 Rp 84.3K
$3.21 Rp 57.5K
46.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 Rp 6.1M
$174 Rp 3.1M
94.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,595 Rp 136.3M
$3,096 Rp 55.5M
145.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 Rp 1.1M
$34.18 Rp 613.1K
77.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.63 Rp 764.8K
$36.35 Rp 652.1K
17.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 Rp 1.8M
$65.7 Rp 1.2M
48.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$75.9 Rp 1.4M
13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 Rp 24.6M
$257 Rp 4.6M
433.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 Rp 16.5M
$122 Rp 2.2M
655.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,495 Rp 80.6M
$930 Rp 16.7M
383.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,803 Rp 50.3M
$151 Rp 2.7M
1759.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,751 Rp 67.3M
$1,135 Rp 20.4M
230.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,040 Rp 54.5M
$699 Rp 12.5M
334.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$181 Rp 3.2M
-
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 Pekanbaru: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali and $257 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Pekanbaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $247 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 158% 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 $1,021 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: $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $257 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 $9.00 versus $40.00 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 $1,759 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $681 in Pekanbaru – a 158% 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 $681 in Pekanbaru versus $1,759 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 158% 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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