Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Samarinda Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Samarinda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,268 per month in Bali vs $711 in Samarinda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,311 per month in Bali vs $1,092 in Samarinda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,354 per month in Bali vs $1,474 in Samarinda, rent included.

Bali costs about 78% more than Samarinda, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bali and Samarinda are more affordable than the global median – Bali 5% lower, Samarinda 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 Rp 52.4K

$1.57 Rp 27.8K

88.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 Rp 487.3K

$12.17 Rp 215.6K

126.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 Rp 71.4K

$5.76 Rp 102.0K

-30.03%

Cappuccino

$2.36 Rp 41.8K

$1.72 Rp 30.4K

37.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 Rp 20.3K

$0.53 Rp 9,357

116.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 Rp 11.1K

$0.42 Rp 7,398

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 Rp 44.2K

$2.50 Rp 44.3K

-0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 Rp 59.0K

$3.48 Rp 61.6K

-4.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$1.22 Rp 21.6K

36.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 Rp 41.7K

$0.97 Rp 17.1K

143.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

44.74%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.60 Rp 28.4K

45.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 Rp 245.1K

$8.19 Rp 145.0K

68.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.00 Rp 70.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.22 Rp 198.7K

$11.17 Rp 197.9K

0.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.60 Rp 63.8K

$5.70 Rp 101.0K

-36.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 26.0K

$1.22 Rp 21.5K

20.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

127.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

$1.61 Rp 28.6K

37.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

25.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 Rp 38.3K

$1.97 Rp 34.9K

9.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 Rp 17.3K

$0.95 Rp 16.9K

3.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 Rp 12.0K

$0.56 Rp 9,899

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 Rp 52.9K

$2.27 Rp 40.2K

31.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.97 Rp 406.8K

$21.72 Rp 384.8K

5.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$2.05 Rp 36.4K

30.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 Rp 46.4K

$3.19 Rp 56.4K

-17.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,198

$0.30 Rp 5,310

-3.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 142.8K

$10.02 Rp 177.5K

-19.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,089

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

-51.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,171

$0.34 Rp 6,077

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.27 Rp 111.1K

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

111.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.5K

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

30.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.4K Rp 467.5M

$24.2K Rp 429.4M

8.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.6K Rp 559.8M

$27.7K Rp 491.5M

13.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$69.2 Rp 1.2M

15.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$4.21 Rp 74.6K

-5.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.71 Rp 420.0K

$22.53 Rp 399.1K

5.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.7 Rp 1.4M

$22.64 Rp 401.1K

260.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.31 Rp 94.1K

$5.98 Rp 106.0K

-11.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 Rp 60.7K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

11.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$271 Rp 4.8M

$92.5 Rp 1.6M

192.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,062 Rp 107.4M

$7,495 Rp 132.8M

-19.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 Rp 909.4K

$41.12 Rp 728.4K

24.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.50 Rp 646.7K

$30.13 Rp 533.8K

21.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

23.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.1 Rp 1.3M

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 Rp 15.5M

$257 Rp 4.6M

239.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$576 Rp 10.2M

$156 Rp 2.8M

268.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,911 Rp 51.6M

$577 Rp 10.2M

404.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 Rp 32.0M

$337 Rp 6.0M

435.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,426 Rp 43.0M

$1,177 Rp 20.9M

106.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,032 Rp 36.0M

$645 Rp 11.4M

214.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$227 Rp 4.0M

$331 Rp 5.9M

-31.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

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

Last update for Bali: June 13, 2026

Last update for Samarinda: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $875 in Bali versus $257 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 46% 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 $28.00 in Bali versus $12.00 in Samarinda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $237 – making Samarinda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bali costs about 78% more than Samarinda, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,901 per month in Bali and $1,067 in Samarinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Bali and $12.00 in Samarinda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,268 in Bali and $711 in Samarinda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Bali at $1,268. In Samarinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samarinda costs $711 versus $1,268 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.