Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Samarinda

For one person, living is cheaper in Samarinda: $652 a month against $1,214 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Samarinda, Indonesia
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,214
/mo nomad
Samarinda
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$652
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Samarinda

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bali and in Samarinda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Bali vs $652 in Samarinda, rent included.

  • Bali $1,214
  • Samarinda $652

A couple spends around $2,047 per month in Bali vs $1,055 in Samarinda, rent included.

  • Bali $2,047
  • Samarinda $1,055

A family of three spends $2,880 per month in Bali vs $1,457 in Samarinda, rent included.

  • Bali $2,880
  • Samarinda $1,457

Bali costs about 86% more than Samarinda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Samarinda are more affordable than the global median – Bali 11% lower, Samarinda 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73 Rp 49.5K
$1.63 Rp 29.6K
67.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.91 Rp 524.4K
$13.90 Rp 252.0K
107.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 Rp 82.7K
$3.33 Rp 60.4K
36.94%
Cappuccino
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$1.45 Rp 26.3K
55.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 Rp 25.9K
$0.45 Rp 8,244
217.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 Rp 12.4K
$0.24 Rp 4,368
183.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$2.17 Rp 39.4K
2.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 Rp 66.8K
$3.50 Rp 63.5K
5.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$1.06 Rp 19.2K
40.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.6K
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
153.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 Rp 20.7K
$0.64 Rp 11.7K
78.12%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 36.6K
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
47.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.81 Rp 304.8K
$7.12 Rp 129.1K
136.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.57 Rp 64.8K
$3.54 Rp 64.2K
0.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.31 Rp 205.1K
$10.03 Rp 181.9K
12.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 62.5K
$4.99 Rp 90.5K
-31.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.4K
$1.09 Rp 19.8K
38.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.7K
$1.07 Rp 19.5K
104.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
$1.41 Rp 25.6K
33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 31.0K
$1.29 Rp 23.4K
32.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 42.0K
$1.81 Rp 32.8K
28.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 9,066
$0.51 Rp 9,225
-1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03 Rp 36.8K
$2.07 Rp 37.5K
-1.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.49 Rp 389.8K
$21.12 Rp 383.0K
1.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 Rp 38.7K
$1.96 Rp 35.5K
9.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 52.0K
$2.92 Rp 53.0K
-1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,562
$0.21 Rp 3,781
19.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 160.0K
$11.71 Rp 212.4K
-24.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,153
$0.50 Rp 9,006
-10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 Rp 7,975
$0.33 Rp 6,003
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 Rp 99.4K
$2.80 Rp 50.9K
95.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 Rp 16.1K
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
9.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 440.7M
$22.3K Rp 404.4M
8.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 579.4M
$31.5K Rp 571.7M
1.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$63.1 Rp 1.1M
26.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55 Rp 118.8K
$3.84 Rp 69.7K
70.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48 Rp 335.2K
$18.56 Rp 336.6K
-0.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.66 Rp 737.5K
$18.49 Rp 335.4K
119.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93 Rp 270.7K
$7.04 Rp 127.7K
112.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67 Rp 66.5K
$2.73 Rp 49.6K
34.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
343.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,063 Rp 91.8M
$8,897 Rp 161.4M
-43.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.62 Rp 791.2K
$40.26 Rp 730.3K
8.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.69 Rp 593.0K
$27.22 Rp 493.8K
20.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
$70.8 Rp 1.3M
4.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
$64.6 Rp 1.2M
15.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$984 Rp 17.8M
$210 Rp 3.8M
369.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 Rp 10.6M
$161 Rp 2.9M
261.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,121 Rp 56.6M
$527 Rp 9.6M
492.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 Rp 26.8M
$420 Rp 7.6M
250.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,447 Rp 44.4M
$1,231 Rp 22.3M
98.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,963 Rp 35.6M
$819 Rp 14.9M
139.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Samarinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
$327 Rp 5.9M
-34.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bali: October 24, 2026

Last update for Samarinda: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$583
Samarinda
$161 72.3% $421
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$275
Samarinda
$214 22.3% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105
Samarinda
$85 18.5% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Samarinda
$91 9.5% $9.6
Eating Out
Bali
$90
Samarinda
$61 31.8% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$48
Samarinda
$24 50.1% $24
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Samarinda
$15 17.7% $2.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Bali versus $210 in Samarinda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Samarinda, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali versus $14 in Samarinda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $214 – making Samarinda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇮🇩 Samarinda
🕒 Local time
16:01 4:01 PM
16:01 4:01 PM
Same time as Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
726,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Samarinda 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Samarinda

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bali vs Samarinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Samarinda?
Bali costs about 86% more than Samarinda, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali and in Samarinda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Bali and $978 in Samarinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Samarinda?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $210 there versus $984 in Bali.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Samarinda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali and $14 in Samarinda. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Samarinda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,214 in Bali and $652 in Samarinda. That makes Samarinda about 46% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Bali or in Samarinda?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Bali at $1,214. In Samarinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Samarinda – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?