Cost of Living: Bali vs Manchester (2026)

Indonesia vs United Kingdom — relocation comparison

TL;DRBali is 36% cheaper on rent ($1082/mo vs $1703/mo). Bali is safer — homicide rate 0.3 vs 1.1 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
68
Livability Score
🇬🇧 Manchester
United Kingdom
Full profile
Too close to call — 68 vs 65. Manchester has a slight edge, but Bali might suit you better depending on your priorities.
💰
Cost of Living
Bali
$621/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Manchester
8.3/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
29°C vs 20°C summers
🗣️
English
Manchester
higher proficiency score
Bali
Metric
Manchester
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1703/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$831/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$5,531
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.1 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
56 / 100
29°C
☀️
Summer high
20°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
3°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
102 Mbps
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.3 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (96/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$62k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
3.3%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100
60/100 — Patchy
Grid reliability
92/100 — Reliable
56/100
🗽
Freedom House
92/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

369
PISA
country avg
494
15
Intl schools
25
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
Yes (English)
Pediatric care
Full pediatric NHS coverage for all residents
Specialist wait
6–18 weeks
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$1486/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Industries
digital-mediafintechhealthcareadvanced-manufacturing
nascent
Startup ecosystem
active
60/100
Grid reliability
92/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Easy
EU visa
Moderate
Easy
RU visa
Complex
Easy
UA visa
Moderate
Your partner gets to watch you work
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 36% cheaper in Bali ($1082/mo vs $1703/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in Bali (29°C vs 20°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 1.1 per 100k).
  • Manchester scores higher on democracy (8.3 vs 6.8 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Manchester (96/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Manchester — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Manchester?

Bali is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1082/month in Bali vs $1703/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Manchester?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Manchester has 1.07 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Manchester?

Too close to call — 68 vs 65. Manchester has a slight edge, but Bali might suit you better depending on your priorities. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Bali or Manchester?

Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Manchester: UK Skilled Worker Visa (complex process, Up to 5 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Bali or Manchester?

Bali is warmer in summer (29°C vs 20°C). Manchester has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Bali or Manchester without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Manchester (EF EPI score: 96/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Manchester, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Bali, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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