Bali vs Denpasar Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Bali vs Denpasar: everyday costs favor Bali (~3% CPI gap), housing index favors Denpasar, wage stretch favors Denpasar. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Bali
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (4839% gap, Denpasar ahead); Internet (2610% gap, Bali ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $7 lower in Denpasar than in Bali (~3% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $7 (favoring Denpasar).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Bali | CPI 16.7 vs 17.2 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Denpasar | Rent index 5 vs 5.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Bali | Groceries index 24.7 vs 24.7 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Bali | One-way ticket 162.9 vs 4159.76 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Bali | Utilities (85m²) 6281.6 vs 163000 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Bali | Internet 10358.6 vs 280686 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Denpasar | Restaurant index 12.8 vs 14.8 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Denpasar | Avg net salary 18493980 vs 374480 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Denpasar | PP index 18.3 vs 10 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Denpasar leads with a 4839% gap.
Avg net salary 18493980 vs 374480 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Denpasar — Lower housing / rent index (4% gap).
- Families: Denpasar — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Denpasar; purchasing power favors Denpasar.
- Remote Workers: Bali — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Bali (~3% gap).
- Budget Living: Bali — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Bali is the overall cost winner on CPI (~3% lower everyday-cost index than Denpasar).
- Housing: Denpasar leads on rent index (4% gap).
- Food / groceries: Bali is lower (0% gap).
- Purchasing power: Denpasar scores higher (83% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (4839%), favoring Denpasar.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$7 cheaper in Denpasar.
Analysis
Bali versus Denpasar is not a single number. With a 3% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Bali, while housing follows Denpasar's rent index. Purchasing power (10 vs 18.3) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-20
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.