Cost of living in Bali vs Sydney and Melbourne: cheaper, until it isn't

Short answer: day-to-day life in Bali costs a fraction of Sydney or Melbourne, especially eating out, transport and rent. But if you want Australian groceries, a big villa by the beach and proper insurance, the gap shrinks faster than you'd think.

The short version

• On Numbeo's 2026 figures, Sydney's everyday costs (excluding rent) are about 136% higher than Bali's, and Sydney rents are about 94% higher [1].
• Local food is where Bali shines: a cheap meal is around IDR 50,000, against roughly A$25 in either Sydney or Melbourne [1][2].
• Imported goods flip the picture. Local cheese, for example, costs more in Bali than in Sydney on Numbeo's numbers [1].
• Budget for things Australia gives you for free or cheap: visas, Bali's tourist levy, private health insurance and medical evacuation cover [3][4][5].
• The rupiah was about IDR 12,700 to the Australian dollar in early November 2026 [6]. A swing in the exchange rate changes everything below.

Where these numbers come from

We've used Numbeo, a crowd-sourced cost-of-living database, for the side-by-side prices. The Bali figures were last updated in June 2026 from 35 contributors, Sydney's in August 2026 and Melbourne's in November 2026 [1][2]. Bali's sample is small, and "Bali" covers everything from Canggu beach villas to Denpasar suburbs, so treat these as guides, not gospel.

The big table: Bali, Sydney and Melbourne

Bali prices are shown in rupiah with Numbeo's A$ conversion. Sydney and Melbourne are in A$.

Sources: Bali and Sydney from Numbeo's city comparison [1]; Melbourne from Numbeo's Melbourne page [2].

Rent: still the biggest cheque

Rent is where most Australians save the most, but look closely at that table. A central three-bedroom in Bali, at around IDR 55 million a month, isn't far off a central three-bedroom in Melbourne. That figure is pulled up by villas with pools in the most popular areas.

The cheaper end is real, though. A one-bedroom away from the hot spots averages around IDR 10.6 million, well under half of what you'd pay in outer Sydney [1]. Long leases are often paid upfront, so you may need a big lump sum on day one even if the monthly cost is low. Our renting in Bali guide explains how leases work.

Groceries: local is cheap, imported is not

Bali's markets and warungs make eating local very affordable. Eggs, rice, chicken and tropical fruit come in at a fraction of Australian prices [1].

The catch is imported food. Numbeo's figures put local cheese at about IDR 135,000 a pound in Bali, more than the roughly A$7.90 shoppers pay in Sydney [1]. Wine and spirits work the same way. If your weekly shop is Vegemite, Tasmanian cheese and Barossa shiraz, your grocery bill will look surprisingly Australian.

A simple rule of thumb: eat like a local four or five days a week, treat imported treats as treats, and your food budget stays small.

Eating out and drinking

This is the headline saving. A cheap meal at around IDR 50,000 is about a sixth of a Sydney or Melbourne equivalent, and Numbeo's overall restaurant index puts Sydney at nearly three times Bali's prices [1].

Two cautions. Prices at beach clubs and Canggu brunch spots are much closer to Australian levels than the warung down the lane. And cheap spirits aren't always a bargain: Smartraveller warns that methanol in contaminated drinks, including arak, has killed people, and you should drink only at reputable licensed venues [5].

Getting around

Bali barely has public transport in the Australian sense, so that A$12 monthly pass on Numbeo isn't how most expats move [1]. You'll mostly use:

• A rented scooter. Cheap to run with petrol around IDR 14,000 a litre [1], but you need an Indonesian licence or an International Driving Permit with your Australian licence, and crashes have killed Australians [5].
• Ride-hailing apps. Smartraveller recommends licensed metered taxis or reputable apps over unregistered drivers [5].
• A car and driver. Common for families and for longer trips across the island.

The costs people forget

These don't show up in a cost-of-living index, but they hit your bank account.

Health care is the big one. Medical standards in Bali are generally lower than in Australia, you pay for all treatment and evacuation, and the Australian Government won't cover it [5]. Medicare doesn't follow you to Bali either; our guide to Medicare when you live abroad explains why.

Building your own Bali budget

1. Pick your area. Canggu and Seminyak cost more than Sanur or inland villages.
2. Price rent first. Get three real quotes for the type of place you want, monthly and yearly.
3. Add your visa, spread over 12 months. A one-year E33G stay works out at under IDR 600,000 a month in government fees [3].
4. Get an insurance quote. Do this before you commit; it can change the maths, especially for older movers or families.
5. Split food into local and imported. Be honest about how much Australian food you'll buy.
6. Add a currency buffer. If you earn in Australian dollars, a weaker dollar makes everything in Bali dearer.

If you'd like real numbers from people living there now, join Cooee Indonesia, our Facebook group for Australians in Indonesia, and ask what their power bill was last month.

Sources

1. Cost of living comparison, Bali and Sydney – Numbeo
2. Cost of living in Melbourne – Numbeo
3. E33G remote worker visa – Directorate General of Immigration
4. Bali tourist levy – Love Bali, Bali Provincial Government
5. Indonesia travel advice – Smartraveller
6. Exchange rates – Reserve Bank of Australia

Keep reading

• Renting in Bali as an Australian
• Aussie life in Bali
• Sending money home without losing it to fees
• Your super while you live overseas