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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,685 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $527 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,928 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $849 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,171 per month in Uluwatu, Bali vs $1,172 in Surakarta, rent included.

Uluwatu, Bali costs about 220% more than Surakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Uluwatu, Bali sits 23% above the global median, while Surakarta is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 Rp 72.8K

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

147.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.57 Rp 771.5K

$11.67 Rp 206.6K

273.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 Rp 117.6K

$3.14 Rp 55.7K

111.46%

Cappuccino

$3.38 Rp 59.8K

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

112.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 Rp 38.8K

$0.49 Rp 8,756

346.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.23 Rp 4,051

339.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 Rp 63.1K

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

148.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.43 Rp 96.1K

$2.90 Rp 51.4K

87.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 Rp 29.4K

$0.91 Rp 16.1K

82.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.6K

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

228.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 21.5K

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

57.14%

Eggs

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

126.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.21 Rp 322.4K

$8.02 Rp 142.0K

127.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.21 Rp 74.5K

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

140.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 Rp 231.4K

$5.35 Rp 94.8K

144.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 Rp 69.3K

$2.11 Rp 37.4K

85.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

28.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 Rp 43.8K

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

27.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

41.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

37.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 Rp 45.8K

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

55.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

82.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 9,996

$0.41 Rp 7,247

36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.41 Rp 42.6K

$2.00 Rp 35.4K

20.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.21 Rp 428.6K

$8.57 Rp 151.7K

182.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 Rp 44.2K

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

43.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 Rp 55.0K

$2.92 Rp 51.6K

6.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 Rp 5,577

$0.39 Rp 6,862

-20.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.28 Rp 181.9K

$22.73 Rp 402.5K

-54.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

$0.51 Rp 9,109

11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 Rp 10.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,269

23.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 Rp 47.5K

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

-0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

38.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K Rp 536.2M

$25.4K Rp 450.5M

19.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K Rp 696.4M

$33.5K Rp 592.7M

17.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.9 Rp 1.6M

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

10.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.40 Rp 131.0K

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

259.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 Rp 363.4K

$18.91 Rp 334.8K

8.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 Rp 1.2M

$16.12 Rp 285.5K

308.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.34 Rp 377.8K

$8.56 Rp 151.6K

149.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 Rp 92.3K

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

160.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$544 Rp 9.6M

$33.61 Rp 595.2K

1519.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,707 Rp 118.8M

$1,873 Rp 33.2M

258.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 Rp 904.7K

$59.2 Rp 1.0M

-13.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.15 Rp 693.2K

$36.91 Rp 653.5K

6.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 Rp 1.6M

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

24.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.8 Rp 1.6M

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

30.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 Rp 27.6M

$167 Rp 3.0M

831.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$924 Rp 16.4M

$57.0 Rp 1.0M

1522.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,848 Rp 85.8M

$341 Rp 6.0M

1322.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 Rp 40.9M

$197 Rp 3.5M

1071.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,720 Rp 65.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,051 Rp 54.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

7.5

83.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $167 in Surakarta. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $152 – making Surakarta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali, $527 in Surakarta – roughly 220% apart. Uluwatu, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,528 per month in Uluwatu, Bali and $790 in Surakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $544 per month in Uluwatu, Bali and $33.61 in Surakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 103% more in Uluwatu, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $527, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,685. In Surakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Uluwatu, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $527 in Surakarta to $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.