Cost of Living: Bali vs Split (2026)

Indonesia vs Croatia — relocation comparison

TL;DRBali has milder winters (25°C vs 4°C lows). English is much more widely spoken in Split. Both cities will charge you about the same to exist.
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
68
Livability Score
🇭🇷 Split
Croatia
Full profile
Too close to call — 68 vs 65. Split has a slight edge, but Bali might suit you better depending on your priorities.
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Bali
6.8/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Split
higher proficiency score
Bali
Metric
Split
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1077/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$670/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$5,244
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
29°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
4°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
6.5 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (84/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$50k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
3.0%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 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
474
15
Intl schools
4
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$650/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 0% cheaper in Split ($1077/mo vs $1082/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Split (30°C vs 29°C).
  • English is easier to get by in Split (84/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Split — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Split?

Split is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1077/month in Split vs $1082/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Split?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Split has 0.77 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Split?

Too close to call — 68 vs 65. Split 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 Split?

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

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

English is easier to get by in Split (EF EPI score: 84/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Split, 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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