Cost of Living: Bali vs Perth (2026)

Indonesia vs Australia — relocation comparison

TL;DRBali is 41% cheaper on rent ($1082/mo vs $1821/mo). Bali is safer — homicide rate 0.3 vs 0.8 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
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
Bali and Perth are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
💰
Cost of Living
Bali
$739/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Perth
higher proficiency score
Bali
Metric
Perth
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$428/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
29°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (95/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
3.2%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100
60/100 — Patchy
Grid reliability
56/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

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

369
PISA
country avg
497
15
Intl schools
1
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$2347/mo

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

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Industries
nascent
Startup ecosystem
60/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Easy
UA visa
Your partner gets to watch you work
Spouse works

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 41% cheaper in Bali ($1082/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Bali (29°C vs 29°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 0.8 per 100k).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 6.8 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Perth (95/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Perth?

Bali is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1082/month in Bali vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Perth?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Perth?

Bali and Perth are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. 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 Perth?

Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Perth: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

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

English is easier to get by in Perth (EF EPI score: 95/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Perth, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Bali, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

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