😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $616 in Sibolga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,131 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $952 in Sibolga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,541 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,288 in Sibolga.
😐Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 179% more expensive than Sibolga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 28% above, Sibolga is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11Rp 70.6K
$1.51Rp 26.0K
172.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.72Rp 682.6K
$12.24Rp 210.3K
224.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99Rp 103.0K
$3.40Rp 58.5K
76.18%
Cappuccino
$3.31Rp 56.8K
$1.74Rp 29.8K
90.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 28.6K
$0.55Rp 9,459
203.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85Rp 14.6K
$0.28Rp 4,826
203.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47Rp 59.7K
$3.06Rp 52.5K
13.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65Rp 79.9K
$2.66Rp 45.7K
74.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87Rp 32.1K
$1.22Rp 20.9K
53.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.58Rp 44.4K
$1.17Rp 20.1K
120.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 20.8K
$0.87Rp 14.9K
39.08%
Eggs
$2.49Rp 42.9K
$1.54Rp 26.5K
61.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10Rp 259.4K
$8.27Rp 142.1K
82.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.40Rp 75.6K
$2.25Rp 38.6K
95.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70Rp 218.2K
$9.16Rp 157.4K
38.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.83Rp 65.8K
$2.38Rp 40.8K
60.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 28.0K
$1.45Rp 24.9K
12.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 48.7K
$1.81Rp 31.1K
56.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45Rp 42.1K
$1.57Rp 27.0K
56.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08Rp 35.7K
$0.70Rp 12.1K
197.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.6K
$1.60Rp 27.5K
43.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 18.4K
$0.95Rp 16.3K
12.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Rp 13.9K
$0.36Rp 6,101
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45Rp 59.3K
$1.78Rp 30.6K
93.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.56Rp 422.1K
$19.99Rp 343.5K
22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03Rp 52.1K
$2.28Rp 39.3K
32.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95Rp 50.7K
$2.26Rp 38.8K
30.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,724
$0.42Rp 7,216
-21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.32Rp 177.3K
$9.56Rp 164.3K
7.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58Rp 9,883
$0.57Rp 9,833
1.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57Rp 9,878
$0.35Rp 5,955
62.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75Rp 133.1K
$2.95Rp 50.8K
162.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 17.7K
$1.03Rp 17.7K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KRp 550.3M
$24.2KRp 415.9M
32.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5KRp 695.3M
$27.9KRp 479.0M
45.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.4Rp 1.5M
$26.84Rp 461.2K
233.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37Rp 75.1K
$4.23Rp 72.7K
3.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.63Rp 457.6K
$22.97Rp 394.8K
15.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$114Rp 2.0M
$23.36Rp 401.5K
388.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49Rp 128.8K
$6.02Rp 103.5K
24.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.78Rp 82.2K
$3.05Rp 52.4K
56.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340Rp 5.8M
$24.23Rp 416.4K
1302.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,378Rp 126.8M
$7,734Rp 132.9M
-4.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7Rp 1.0M
$15.29Rp 262.7K
290.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50Rp 730.4K
$18.08Rp 310.7K
135.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$65.9Rp 1.1M
47.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4Rp 1.5M
$74.2Rp 1.3M
16.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,326Rp 22.8M
$263Rp 4.5M
404.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$909Rp 15.6M
$159Rp 2.7M
469.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,534Rp 77.9M
$578Rp 9.9M
684.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,820Rp 48.5M
$334Rp 5.7M
744.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,121Rp 70.8M
$1,229Rp 21.1M
235.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,149Rp 54.1M
$767Rp 13.2M
310.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Sibolga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$168Rp 2.9M
-
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Sibolga: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,326 in Uluwatu, Bali and $263 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $12 in Sibolga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $202 per month, with Sibolga 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 Sibolga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Uluwatu, Bali and Sibolga?
Uluwatu, Bali and Sibolga differ by about 179% in total monthly costs ($1,720 vs $616 including rent). Sibolga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Sibolga?
You'd need roughly $2,579 in Uluwatu, Bali and $923 in Sibolga 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Uluwatu, Bali and Sibolga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,326 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $263 in Sibolga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sibolga – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Uluwatu, Bali or Sibolga?
All in, you'll spend $1,720 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $616 in Sibolga – a 179% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $616 in Sibolga versus $1,720 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sibolga but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sibolga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Uluwatu, Bali and Sibolga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Uluwatu, Bali or Sibolga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Sibolga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Uluwatu, Bali or Sibolga?
Expats usually find Sibolga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% 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