😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $671 in Pekanbaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $972 in Pekanbaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,273 in Pekanbaru.
😐Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 153% more expensive than Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above, Pekanbaru is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.14Rp 74.0K
$1.58Rp 28.1K
162.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93Rp 695.2K
$9.16Rp 163.6K
325.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99Rp 106.9K
$2.43Rp 43.3K
146.50%
Cappuccino
$3.39Rp 60.6K
$1.35Rp 24.2K
151.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61Rp 28.8K
$0.50Rp 8,881
222.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$0.24Rp 4,259
266.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53Rp 63.1K
$2.21Rp 39.5K
59.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59Rp 81.9K
$3.31Rp 59.1K
38.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83Rp 32.7K
$1.36Rp 24.2K
34.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66Rp 47.5K
$1.20Rp 21.4K
121.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.5K
$0.98Rp 17.5K
23.47%
Eggs
$2.53Rp 45.2K
$1.71Rp 30.5K
47.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.46Rp 276.0K
$17.17Rp 306.6K
-9.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.56Rp 81.4K
$2.62Rp 46.8K
74.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.51Rp 223.4K
$10.17Rp 181.5K
23.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.90Rp 69.6K
$2.88Rp 51.4K
35.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.1K
$1.68Rp 30.1K
-2.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91Rp 52.0K
$2.00Rp 35.8K
45.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.4K
$0.96Rp 17.2K
147.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.8K
$1.01Rp 18.1K
103.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.4K
$1.67Rp 29.8K
41.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-28.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$0.45Rp 8,024
64.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.6K
$2.25Rp 40.2K
45.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.10Rp 448.3K
$21.07Rp 376.3K
19.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.6K
$2.80Rp 50.0K
7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 51.8K
$4.08Rp 72.8K
-28.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34Rp 6,057
$0.29Rp 5,261
17.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.40Rp 185.7K
$9.04Rp 161.5K
15.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$0.88Rp 15.7K
-31.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54Rp 9,583
$0.44Rp 7,814
22.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56Rp 135.0K
$2.14Rp 38.2K
253.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 18.4K
$0.77Rp 13.7K
33.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KRp 574.5M
$22.7KRp 405.1M
41.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4KRp 703.6M
$25.7KRp 459.7M
53.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.6Rp 1.6M
$69.3Rp 1.2M
26.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 77.5K
$6.73Rp 120.2K
-35.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.50Rp 473.2K
$28.30Rp 505.4K
-6.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$112Rp 2.0M
$23.12Rp 412.8K
384.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.62Rp 136.1K
$12.25Rp 218.7K
-37.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.77Rp 85.2K
$3.29Rp 58.7K
44.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347Rp 6.2M
$175Rp 3.1M
97.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,491Rp 133.8M
$3,092Rp 55.2M
142.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3Rp 1.1M
$34.33Rp 613.1K
75.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64Rp 761.4K
$36.18Rp 646.2K
17.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5Rp 1.7M
$65.1Rp 1.2M
49.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2Rp 1.5M
$76.5Rp 1.4M
11.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,335Rp 23.8M
$258Rp 4.6M
417.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921Rp 16.5M
$120Rp 2.2M
665.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,567Rp 81.6M
$908Rp 16.2M
403.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,786Rp 49.8M
$154Rp 2.7M
1709.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,712Rp 66.3M
$1,026Rp 18.3M
261.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,139Rp 56.1M
$722Rp 12.9M
334.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$190Rp 3.4M
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Pekanbaru: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali and $258 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Pekanbaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $251 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 153% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,007 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: $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $258 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 Pekanbaru?
Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $39.00 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 vs Pekanbaru?
All in, you'll spend $1,700 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $671 in Pekanbaru – a 153% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Uluwatu, Bali or Pekanbaru?
At $671 in Pekanbaru versus $1,700 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 153% 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