Denpasar vs Bali Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Denpasar vs Bali: everyday costs favor Bali (~43% CPI gap), housing index favors Bali, wage stretch favors Bali. 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: Purchasing Power (112% gap, Bali ahead); Transport (100% gap, Bali ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $112 lower in Bali than in Denpasar (~55% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $112 (favoring Bali).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Bali | CPI 9.8 vs 17.2 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Bali | Rent index 2.1 vs 5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Bali | Groceries index 12.5 vs 24.7 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Bali | One-way ticket 15 vs 4159.76 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Bali | Utilities (85m²) 962.5 vs 163000 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Bali | Internet 435 vs 280686 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Bali | Restaurant index 8.2 vs 12.8 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Denpasar | Avg net salary 18493980 vs 23780.65 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Bali | PP index 38.8 vs 18.3 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Purchasing Power: Bali leads with a 112% gap.
PP index 38.8 vs 18.3 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Bali — Lower housing / rent index (58% gap).
- Families: Bali — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Bali; purchasing power favors Bali.
- Remote Workers: Bali — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Bali (~43% gap).
- Budget Living: Bali — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Bali is the overall cost winner on CPI (~43% lower everyday-cost index than Denpasar).
- Housing: Bali leads on rent index (58% gap).
- Food / groceries: Bali is lower (49% gap).
- Purchasing power: Bali scores higher (112% gap).
- Largest category gap: Purchasing Power (112%), favoring Bali.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$112 cheaper in Bali.
Analysis
Denpasar versus Bali is not a single number. With a 43% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Bali, while housing follows Bali's rent index. Purchasing power (18.3 vs 38.8) 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
- Nearby
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Nearby.
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.