Surat vs Bali Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Bali leads on CPI (9.8 vs 14, NYC=100), Bali leads on rent index, and Surat leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Bali
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (93% gap, Surat ahead); Housing (53% gap, Bali ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $87 lower in Bali than in Surat (~49% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $87 (favoring Bali).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Bali | CPI 9.8 vs 14 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Bali | Rent index 2.1 vs 4.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Bali | Groceries index 12.5 vs 17 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Bali | One-way ticket 15 vs 27.85 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Surat | Utilities (85m²) 751.5 vs 962.5 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Bali | Internet 435 vs 905.98 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Bali | Restaurant index 8.2 vs 12.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Surat | Avg net salary 331328 vs 23780.65 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Surat | PP index 64 vs 38.8 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Surat leads with a 93% gap.
Avg net salary 331328 vs 23780.65 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Bali — Lower housing / rent index (53% gap).
- Families: Bali — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Bali; purchasing power favors Surat.
- Remote Workers: Bali — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Bali (~30% gap).
- Budget Living: Bali — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Bali is the overall cost winner on CPI (~30% lower everyday-cost index than Surat).
- Housing: Bali leads on rent index (53% gap).
- Food / groceries: Bali is lower (26% gap).
- Purchasing power: Surat scores higher (39% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (93%), favoring Surat.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$87 cheaper in Bali.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 14/9.8, rent 4.5/2.1, purchasing power 64/38.8. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-24
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Nearby
On-page labels for this view: Real · 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.