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: $790 in Balikpapan versus $950 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,188 in Balikpapan versus $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,585 in Balikpapan versus $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 17% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 41% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

-33.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.44 Rp 276.6K

$21.69 Rp 388.7K

-28.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.40 Rp 60.9K

$3.23 Rp 58.0K

5.26%

Cappuccino

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

$1.90 Rp 34.1K

-6.32%

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

$0.41 Rp 7,283

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

-56.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,440

$0.47 Rp 8,337

-10.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.0K

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

-2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

17.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 Rp 32.5K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

24.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

-35.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

34.69%

Eggs

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

40.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 Rp 149.0K

$11.75 Rp 210.4K

-29.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 Rp 89.0K

$3.38 Rp 60.5K

47.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 Rp 140.6K

$9.83 Rp 176.0K

-20.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 Rp 68.0K

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

16.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.0K

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-4.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 Rp 22.3K

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

-31.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.8K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

19.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 Rp 65.6K

$1.78 Rp 31.8K

105.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

17.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.1K

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

25.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 Rp 37.5K

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

-19.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.13 Rp 378.6K

$18.61 Rp 333.4K

13.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 Rp 38.7K

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 77.5K

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

86.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 Rp 10.5K

$0.24 Rp 4,288

145.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.60 Rp 172.0K

$7.50 Rp 134.4K

28.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

$0.41 Rp 7,327

192.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,671

$0.38 Rp 6,836

-2.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 Rp 111.5K

$5.61 Rp 100.5K

11.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

-3.90%

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

$24.7K Rp 441.8M

$23.6K Rp 422.0M

4.70%

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

$25.8K Rp 462.3M

$29.3K Rp 524.1M

-11.80%

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

$91.0 Rp 1.6M

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

26.30%

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

$3.09 Rp 55.3K

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

-16.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.94 Rp 572.2K

$21.33 Rp 382.1K

49.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.58 Rp 386.6K

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

-68.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.17 Rp 110.6K

$4.53 Rp 81.2K

36.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

9.34%

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

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

$232 Rp 4.2M

-73.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,560 Rp 135.4M

$5,015 Rp 89.9M

50.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.36 Rp 741.0K

$46.98 Rp 841.7K

-11.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.79 Rp 372.5K

$32.75 Rp 586.7K

-36.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.2M

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

68.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 Rp 2.2M

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

82.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 Rp 3.9M

$515 Rp 9.2M

-57.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$349 Rp 6.3M

-55.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 Rp 8.8M

$1,780 Rp 31.9M

-72.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 Rp 5.6M

$1,083 Rp 19.4M

-71.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,135 Rp 20.3M

$1,453 Rp 26.0M

-21.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$625 Rp 11.2M

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

-47.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 Rp 3.5M

$325 Rp 5.8M

-39.88%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Balikpapan and $515 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 66% 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 $252 vs $241, 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 20% in total monthly costs ($790 vs $950 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 66% less. 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: $218 in Balikpapan versus $515 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 28% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.9 in Balikpapan versus $232 in Denpasar, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $790 in Balikpapan versus $950 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 20% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.