Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $774 per month in Balikpapan vs $1,278 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,193 per month in Balikpapan vs $2,318 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,612 per month in Balikpapan vs $3,357 in Bali, rent included.

Balikpapan is about 39% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Balikpapan and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Balikpapan 42% lower, Bali 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 26.4K

$2.88 Rp 49.8K

-47.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.63 Rp 270.8K

$27.30 Rp 473.3K

-42.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 59.3K

$4.17 Rp 72.3K

-17.99%

Cappuccino

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

$2.38 Rp 41.2K

-23.95%

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

$0.44 Rp 7,629

$1.10 Rp 19.1K

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 Rp 6,718

$0.61 Rp 10.6K

-36.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 Rp 35.2K

$2.48 Rp 43.0K

-18.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 54.8K

$3.17 Rp 54.9K

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.0K

$1.67 Rp 28.9K

7.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.4K

$2.41 Rp 41.8K

-48.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.1K

$1.14 Rp 19.7K

12.28%

Eggs

$2.66 Rp 46.1K

$2.26 Rp 39.3K

17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 137.3K

$13.83 Rp 239.7K

-42.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 Rp 83.2K

$4.14 Rp 71.7K

15.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 138.5K

$11.53 Rp 199.8K

-30.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 63.1K

$3.47 Rp 60.1K

4.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

$1.48 Rp 25.7K

1.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 36.9K

$2.68 Rp 46.5K

-20.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.7K

$2.11 Rp 36.7K

-43.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 32.2K

$1.91 Rp 33.2K

-2.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 65.3K

$2.12 Rp 36.7K

77.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 Rp 17.3K

$1.01 Rp 17.5K

-0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 14.0K

$0.69 Rp 11.9K

17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 35.8K

$3.15 Rp 54.6K

-34.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.43 Rp 388.8K

$22.59 Rp 391.5K

-0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 37.7K

$2.64 Rp 45.7K

-17.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 76.0K

$2.59 Rp 45.0K

69.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

$0.29 Rp 5,073

113.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.73 Rp 168.7K

$8.17 Rp 141.5K

19.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 Rp 21.6K

$0.48 Rp 8,336

158.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,934

$0.43 Rp 7,427

-20.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 Rp 104.8K

$6.25 Rp 108.4K

-3.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.5K

$0.87 Rp 15.0K

-10.34%

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

$24.6K Rp 425.9M

$26.0K Rp 449.9M

-5.35%

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

$25.9K Rp 448.9M

$32.8K Rp 567.8M

-20.94%

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

$91.7 Rp 1.6M

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

16.10%

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

$3.06 Rp 53.0K

$4.05 Rp 70.2K

-24.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 Rp 560.5K

$24.32 Rp 421.6K

32.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 Rp 369.8K

$82.5 Rp 1.4M

-74.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 Rp 108.4K

$5.47 Rp 94.8K

14.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 Rp 51.9K

$3.47 Rp 60.1K

-13.54%

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

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

$269 Rp 4.7M

-77.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,667 Rp 132.9M

$5,944 Rp 103.0M

28.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 Rp 726.2K

$51.7 Rp 896.7K

-19.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.46 Rp 354.6K

$36.29 Rp 629.0K

-43.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.2M

$84.4 Rp 1.5M

48.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Rp 2.1M

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

63.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 Rp 3.8M

$856 Rp 14.8M

-74.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.7M

$573 Rp 9.9M

-72.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.6M

$2,908 Rp 50.4M

-82.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.3M

$1,824 Rp 31.6M

-83.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 Rp 20.7M

$2,664 Rp 46.2M

-55.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$876 Rp 15.2M

$2,077 Rp 36.0M

-57.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 Rp 3.5M

$219 Rp 3.8M

-6.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

12.95%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $217 in Balikpapan versus $856 in Bali. 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 7% higher in Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Balikpapan versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $284 – making Balikpapan 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

Balikpapan vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 65% more than Balikpapan, 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 $1,162 per month in Balikpapan and $1,917 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Balikpapan, 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 $16.00 in Balikpapan and $27.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $774 in Balikpapan and $1,278 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikpapan, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Bali at $1,278. In Balikpapan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Balikpapan costs $774 versus $1,278 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 Balikpapan. 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.