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: $787 in Balikpapan versus $959 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Balikpapan versus $1,681 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Balikpapan versus $2,404 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 18% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 41% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.6K

$2.41 Rp 43.5K

-34.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.12 Rp 273.4K

$22.01 Rp 398.0K

-31.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 60.0K

$3.25 Rp 58.8K

2.15%

Cappuccino

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.80 Rp 32.5K

-0.56%

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

$0.41 Rp 7,373

$0.87 Rp 15.8K

-52.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,949

$0.47 Rp 8,413

-19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.2K

$1.95 Rp 35.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 Rp 55.9K

$2.60 Rp 47.1K

18.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

$1.44 Rp 26.1K

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 Rp 22.1K

$2.03 Rp 36.7K

-39.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.8K

$0.91 Rp 16.5K

43.96%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

$1.97 Rp 35.5K

35.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 Rp 149.2K

$11.81 Rp 213.5K

-30.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

$3.42 Rp 61.8K

46.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 Rp 139.5K

$9.84 Rp 177.9K

-21.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 Rp 67.9K

$3.09 Rp 55.9K

21.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

15.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

$2.21 Rp 39.9K

-4.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.9K

$1.90 Rp 34.3K

-33.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.4K

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

16.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 Rp 67.7K

$1.87 Rp 33.9K

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.8K

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

13.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.59 Rp 10.7K

33.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 Rp 36.4K

$2.63 Rp 47.5K

-23.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.19 Rp 365.1K

$18.57 Rp 335.9K

8.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 39.3K

$2.27 Rp 41.0K

-3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 79.2K

$2.23 Rp 40.3K

96.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

$0.26 Rp 4,728

123.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 Rp 183.0K

$7.54 Rp 136.3K

34.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$0.44 Rp 7,960

175.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,719

$0.42 Rp 7,509

-11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

$5.66 Rp 102.4K

7.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.72 Rp 13.1K

1.39%

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

$24.5K Rp 443.7M

$23.9K Rp 432.6M

2.56%

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

$25.5K Rp 460.8M

$28.4K Rp 514.4M

-10.42%

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

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

$71.0 Rp 1.3M

31.16%

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

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

$3.55 Rp 64.3K

-12.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 Rp 586.1K

$21.30 Rp 385.2K

52.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.16 Rp 382.6K

$67.6 Rp 1.2M

-68.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 108.8K

$4.47 Rp 80.9K

34.68%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 54.5K

$2.79 Rp 50.5K

7.89%

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

$62.0 Rp 1.1M

$234 Rp 4.2M

-73.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,605 Rp 137.5M

$5,006 Rp 90.5M

51.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 Rp 760.0K

$46.68 Rp 844.1K

-9.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.04 Rp 380.4K

$32.96 Rp 596.0K

-36.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.3M

$75.0 Rp 1.4M

66.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 Rp 2.2M

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

87.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 4.0M

$530 Rp 9.6M

-58.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$347 Rp 6.3M

-54.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 Rp 8.8M

$1,790 Rp 32.4M

-72.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 Rp 5.5M

$1,096 Rp 19.8M

-72.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,090 Rp 19.7M

$1,426 Rp 25.8M

-23.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 Rp 10.8M

$1,171 Rp 21.2M

-49.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 Rp 3.5M

$279 Rp 5.0M

-31.17%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $530 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 45% 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: $15.00 in Balikpapan vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $242, with Denpasar, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

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

Balikpapan and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $959 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 45% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Balikpapan versus $530 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $62.0 in Balikpapan versus $234 in Denpasar, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $787 in Balikpapan versus $959 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.