🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $672 in Balikpapan versus $909 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,070 in Balikpapan versus $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Balikpapan versus $2,123 in Denpasar, Bali.
🌍Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 26% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan51% lower, Denpasar, Bali34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38Rp 24.4K
$2.23Rp 39.5K
-38.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.14Rp 197.3K
$23.92Rp 423.6K
-53.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.17Rp 56.1K
$3.76Rp 66.5K
-15.69%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 25.8K
$1.77Rp 31.4K
-18.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,782
$1.24Rp 21.9K
-69.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,529
$0.52Rp 9,131
-28.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40Rp 42.5K
$1.94Rp 34.4K
23.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53Rp 62.5K
$2.93Rp 51.9K
20.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19Rp 21.0K
$1.29Rp 22.9K
-7.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$1.86Rp 32.9K
-40.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.7K
$0.91Rp 16.1K
28.57%
Eggs
$2.59Rp 45.9K
$1.76Rp 31.2K
47.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.34Rp 130.0K
$14.64Rp 259.2K
-49.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97Rp 52.6K
$3.20Rp 56.6K
-7.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.78Rp 120.1K
$9.81Rp 173.7K
-30.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$3.04Rp 53.8K
-25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.4K
$1.32Rp 23.3K
-3.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.1K
$1.87Rp 33.0K
-9.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25Rp 22.1K
$1.60Rp 28.4K
-21.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Rp 23.3K
$1.53Rp 27.0K
-14.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01Rp 35.6K
$1.94Rp 34.3K
3.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73Rp 13.0K
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-6.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.3K
$0.41Rp 7,346
68.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90Rp 33.7K
$1.88Rp 33.3K
1.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.60Rp 364.7K
$18.97Rp 335.9K
8.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91Rp 33.8K
$1.87Rp 33.1K
2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.0K
$2.50Rp 44.3K
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55Rp 9,817
$0.24Rp 4,267
129.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.36Rp 130.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15Rp 20.4K
$0.43Rp 7,657
167.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 5,944
$0.39Rp 6,963
-12.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.89Rp 51.2K
$3.06Rp 54.1K
-5.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$0.73Rp 13.0K
4.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5KRp 416.3M
$22.5KRp 399.3M
4.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KRp 552.0M
$28.3KRp 500.7M
10.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9Rp 1.2M
$75.9Rp 1.3M
-7.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52Rp 80.0K
$5.96Rp 105.5K
-24.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.58Rp 523.8K
$16.71Rp 296.0K
77.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.45Rp 433.0K
$39.78Rp 704.5K
-38.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.64Rp 153.1K
$13.21Rp 233.9K
-34.60%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85Rp 50.5K
$3.11Rp 55.0K
-8.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.7Rp 1.7M
$370Rp 6.6M
-74.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,923Rp 122.6M
$4,428Rp 78.4M
56.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.44Rp 680.6K
$40.11Rp 710.2K
-4.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.51Rp 345.5K
$30.66Rp 542.9K
-36.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141Rp 2.5M
$70.8Rp 1.3M
99.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9Rp 1.3M
$67.9Rp 1.2M
4.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203Rp 3.6M
$585Rp 10.4M
-65.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$358Rp 6.3M
-56.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557Rp 9.9M
$1,846Rp 32.7M
-69.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367Rp 6.5M
$922Rp 16.3M
-60.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,079Rp 19.1M
$1,456Rp 25.8M
-25.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$709Rp 12.6M
$1,214Rp 21.5M
-41.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$245Rp 4.3M
$284Rp 5.0M
-13.71%
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 Denpasar, Bali: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Balikpapan and $585 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Balikpapan vs $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $239 per month, with Balikpapan cheaper across the board.
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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Balikpapan and in Denpasar, Bali?
Balikpapan and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($672 vs $909 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Denpasar, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Balikpapan and in Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Balikpapan versus $585 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Balikpapan and Denpasar, Bali?
Childcare runs $94.7 in Balikpapan versus $370 in Denpasar, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Balikpapan – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $672 in Balikpapan versus $909 in Denpasar, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Balikpapan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Balikpapan and Denpasar, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Balikpapan or Denpasar, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Balikpapan and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Balikpapan or Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Balikpapan vs other spots: cost of living compared