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

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Balikpapan 51% lower, Denpasar, Bali 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
-38.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.14 Rp 197.3K
$23.92 Rp 423.6K
-53.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.17 Rp 56.1K
$3.76 Rp 66.5K
-15.69%
Cappuccino
$1.45 Rp 25.8K
$1.77 Rp 31.4K
-18.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 Rp 6,782
$1.24 Rp 21.9K
-69.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,529
$0.52 Rp 9,131
-28.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 Rp 42.5K
$1.94 Rp 34.4K
23.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 Rp 62.5K
$2.93 Rp 51.9K
20.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Rp 21.0K
$1.29 Rp 22.9K
-7.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$1.86 Rp 32.9K
-40.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.7K
$0.91 Rp 16.1K
28.57%
Eggs
$2.59 Rp 45.9K
$1.76 Rp 31.2K
47.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.34 Rp 130.0K
$14.64 Rp 259.2K
-49.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.97 Rp 52.6K
$3.20 Rp 56.6K
-7.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.78 Rp 120.1K
$9.81 Rp 173.7K
-30.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$3.04 Rp 53.8K
-25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.4K
$1.32 Rp 23.3K
-3.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 Rp 30.1K
$1.87 Rp 33.0K
-9.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.1K
$1.60 Rp 28.4K
-21.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.3K
$1.53 Rp 27.0K
-14.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 Rp 35.6K
$1.94 Rp 34.3K
3.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-6.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.3K
$0.41 Rp 7,346
68.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$1.88 Rp 33.3K
1.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.60 Rp 364.7K
$18.97 Rp 335.9K
8.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$1.87 Rp 33.1K
2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.0K
$2.50 Rp 44.3K
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 Rp 9,817
$0.24 Rp 4,267
129.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$7.36 Rp 130.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 Rp 20.4K
$0.43 Rp 7,657
167.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 5,944
$0.39 Rp 6,963
-12.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 Rp 51.2K
$3.06 Rp 54.1K
-5.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
4.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K Rp 416.3M
$22.5K Rp 399.3M
4.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 552.0M
$28.3K Rp 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)
$69.9 Rp 1.2M
$75.9 Rp 1.3M
-7.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$5.96 Rp 105.5K
-24.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.58 Rp 523.8K
$16.71 Rp 296.0K
77.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.45 Rp 433.0K
$39.78 Rp 704.5K
-38.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.64 Rp 153.1K
$13.21 Rp 233.9K
-34.60%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 Rp 50.5K
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
-8.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.7 Rp 1.7M
$370 Rp 6.6M
-74.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,923 Rp 122.6M
$4,428 Rp 78.4M
56.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.44 Rp 680.6K
$40.11 Rp 710.2K
-4.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.51 Rp 345.5K
$30.66 Rp 542.9K
-36.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$141 Rp 2.5M
$70.8 Rp 1.3M
99.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
4.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 Rp 3.6M
$585 Rp 10.4M
-65.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$358 Rp 6.3M
-56.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$557 Rp 9.9M
$1,846 Rp 32.7M
-69.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 Rp 6.5M
$922 Rp 16.3M
-60.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,079 Rp 19.1M
$1,456 Rp 25.8M
-25.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$709 Rp 12.6M
$1,214 Rp 21.5M
-41.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balikpapan
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$245 Rp 4.3M
$284 Rp 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.

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