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Bali vs Labuan Bajo 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 Labuan Bajo
At a glance
- Where Labuan Bajo is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (70%โ), SIM card (67%โ), Haircut (33%โ)
- Where Bali is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (81%โ), Half-day tour (29%โ), Scooter rental (25%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Bali is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Bali 4 vs Labuan Bajo 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Bali | Labuan Bajo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | similar |
| Street food1 item | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Rp 25,000$1.53 | Bali โ20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Rp 175,000$10.7 | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Labuan Bajo โ31% |
| Coffeeone cup | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Labuan Bajo โ12% |
| Beerone bottle | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Bali โ20% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Labuan Bajo โ17% |
| 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 | Labuan Bajo โ20% |
| Taxi5 km in town | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Labuan Bajo โ14% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Rp 15,000$0.92 | similar |
| Transitone ride | Rp 4,000$0.25 | Rp 5,000$0.31 | Bali โ20% |
| 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 | Labuan Bajo โ13% |
| Studio rent (month) | Rp 10,000,000$613 | Rp 3,000,000$184 | Labuan Bajo โ70% |
| Laundry | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Bali โ25% |
| SIM card1 week data | Rp 150,000$9.2 | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Labuan Bajo โ67% |
| Haircutcut | Rp 60,000$3.68 | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Labuan Bajo โ33% |
| Massage1 hour | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Rp 150,000$9.2 | Bali โ20% |
| Half-day tourper person | Rp 500,000$30.7 | Rp 700,000$42.9 | Bali โ29% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Rp 75,000$4.6 | Rp 400,000$24.5 | Bali โ81% |
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 Labuan Bajo?
Labuan Bajo is 37% cheaper than Bali. Daily budget $78.6 vs $66.7; a month $2,107 vs $879.
Which is easier to travel, Bali or Labuan Bajo?
Bali is easier: Bali 3.0/5 vs Labuan Bajo 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Bali and Labuan Bajo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Bali is about $2,107 and Labuan Bajo about $879 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.