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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $672 per month in Balikpapan vs $1,265 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,070 per month in Balikpapan vs $2,121 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,468 per month in Balikpapan vs $2,978 in Bali, rent included.

Balikpapan is about 47% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Balikpapan and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Balikpapan 51% lower, Bali 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

-50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.14 Rp 197.3K

$30.12 Rp 533.4K

-63.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.17 Rp 56.1K

$4.78 Rp 84.6K

-33.68%

Cappuccino

$1.45 Rp 25.8K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-34.68%

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

$0.38 Rp 6,782

$1.54 Rp 27.3K

-75.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 Rp 6,529

$0.68 Rp 12.1K

-45.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 Rp 42.5K

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

-5.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 Rp 62.5K

$3.61 Rp 63.9K

-2.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 Rp 21.0K

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

-18.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

-49.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

4.46%

Eggs

$2.59 Rp 45.9K

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

27.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 Rp 130.0K

$16.93 Rp 299.7K

-56.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

$3.82 Rp 67.7K

-22.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 Rp 120.1K

$11.86 Rp 210.1K

-42.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$3.50 Rp 62.0K

-34.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.4K

$1.48 Rp 26.2K

-14.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

-23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

$1.85 Rp 32.7K

-32.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.3K

$1.82 Rp 32.2K

-28.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 Rp 35.6K

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

-14.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

-22.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

$0.49 Rp 8,645

40.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

$2.12 Rp 37.6K

-10.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.60 Rp 364.7K

$22.02 Rp 390.0K

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

-16.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.0K

$2.91 Rp 51.4K

3.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 Rp 9,817

$0.27 Rp 4,805

103.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.14 Rp 144.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$0.48 Rp 8,537

139.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,944

$0.46 Rp 8,215

-26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 Rp 51.2K

$5.69 Rp 100.8K

-49.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

-1.30%

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

$23.5K Rp 416.3M

$24.4K Rp 431.6M

-3.55%

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

$31.2K Rp 552.0M

$31.1K Rp 551.5M

0.10%

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

$69.9 Rp 1.2M

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

-14.04%

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

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$6.60 Rp 117.0K

-31.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 Rp 523.8K

$18.65 Rp 330.2K

58.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.45 Rp 433.0K

$47.53 Rp 841.6K

-48.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.64 Rp 153.1K

$15.28 Rp 270.6K

-43.46%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 50.5K

$3.77 Rp 66.8K

-24.40%

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

$94.7 Rp 1.7M

$436 Rp 7.7M

-78.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,923 Rp 122.6M

$5,380 Rp 95.3M

28.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.44 Rp 680.6K

$44.93 Rp 795.6K

-14.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.51 Rp 345.5K

$33.69 Rp 596.5K

-42.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 Rp 2.5M

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

81.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

-8.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 Rp 3.6M

$1,001 Rp 17.7M

-79.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$593 Rp 10.5M

-73.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 Rp 9.9M

$3,156 Rp 55.9M

-82.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 Rp 6.5M

$1,536 Rp 27.2M

-76.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,079 Rp 19.1M

$2,456 Rp 43.5M

-56.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$709 Rp 12.6M

$1,976 Rp 35.0M

-64.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 Rp 4.3M

$223 Rp 3.9M

10.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

13.78

-31.35%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bali: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $203 in Balikpapan versus $1,001 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 10% higher in Balikpapan, 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 $11.00 in Balikpapan versus $30.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $280 – 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 88% more than Balikpapan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,009 per month in Balikpapan and $1,898 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $672 in Balikpapan and $1,265 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $94.7 per month in Balikpapan and $436 in Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikpapan, where all-in costs run around $672, than in Bali at $1,265. 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 $672 versus $1,265 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.