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