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Bali vs Bintan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฎ๐ฉ Bali
๐ฎ๐ฉ Bintan
At a glance
- Where Bintan is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (67%โ), Haircut (42%โ), SIM card (33%โ)
- Where Bali is clearly cheaper: Massage (52%โ), Entry ticket (46%โ), Transit (43%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Bintan is easier to travel (2.6 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Bali 4 vs Bintan 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Bali | Bintan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Rp 60,000$3.68 | Bali โ42% |
| Street food1 item | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Rp 25,000$1.53 | Bali โ20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Rp 175,000$10.7 | Rp 250,000$15.3 | Bali โ30% |
| Coffeeone cup | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Rp 40,000$2.45 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Bali โ20% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Rp 150,000$9.2 | Bali โ20% |
| Bottled water | Rp 5,000$0.31 | Rp 5,000$0.31 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | Rp 10,000$0.61 | Rp 8,000$0.49 | Bintan โ20% |
| Taxi5 km in town | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Bali โ30% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Rp 15,000$0.92 | similar |
| Transitone ride | Rp 4,000$0.25 | Rp 7,000$0.43 | Bali โ43% |
| Scooter rentalper day | Rp 75,000$4.6 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Bali โ25% |
| Hotel night3-star | Rp 800,000$49.1 | Rp 700,000$42.9 | Bintan โ13% |
| Studio rent (month) | Rp 10,000,000$613 | Rp 3,300,000$202 | Bintan โ67% |
| Laundry | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Rp 12,000$0.74 | Bintan โ20% |
| SIM card1 week data | Rp 150,000$9.2 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Bintan โ33% |
| Haircutcut | Rp 60,000$3.68 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Bintan โ42% |
| Massage1 hour | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Rp 250,000$15.3 | Bali โ52% |
| Half-day tourper person | Rp 500,000$30.7 | Rp 350,000$21.5 | Bintan โ30% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Rp 75,000$4.6 | Rp 140,000$8.59 | Bali โ46% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Bali or Bintan?
Bintan is 19% cheaper than Bali. Daily budget $78.6 vs $84.5; a month $2,107 vs $1,158.
Which is easier to travel, Bali or Bintan?
Bintan is easier: Bintan 2.6/5 vs Bali 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Bali and Bintan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Bali is about $2,107 and Bintan about $1,158 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.