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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $672 in Balikpapan versus $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,070 in Balikpapan versus $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Balikpapan versus $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 60% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Balikpapan is 51% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$4.11 Rp 72.8K
-66.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.14 Rp 197.3K
$43.57 Rp 771.5K
-74.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.17 Rp 56.1K
$6.64 Rp 117.6K
-52.26%
Cappuccino
$1.45 Rp 25.8K
$3.38 Rp 59.8K
-57.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 Rp 6,782
$2.19 Rp 38.8K
-82.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,529
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-63.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 Rp 42.5K
$3.56 Rp 63.1K
-32.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 Rp 62.5K
$5.43 Rp 96.1K
-34.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Rp 21.0K
$1.66 Rp 29.4K
-28.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
-54.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.7K
$1.21 Rp 21.5K
-3.31%
Eggs
$2.59 Rp 45.9K
$2.29 Rp 40.6K
13.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.34 Rp 130.0K
$18.21 Rp 322.4K
-59.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.97 Rp 52.6K
$4.21 Rp 74.5K
-29.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.78 Rp 120.1K
$13.07 Rp 231.4K
-48.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$3.91 Rp 69.3K
-41.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.4K
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
-22.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 Rp 30.1K
$2.47 Rp 43.8K
-31.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.1K
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
-39.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.3K
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-31.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 Rp 35.6K
$2.59 Rp 45.8K
-22.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
-31.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.3K
$0.56 Rp 9,996
23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$2.41 Rp 42.6K
-21.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.60 Rp 364.7K
$24.21 Rp 428.6K
-14.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$2.50 Rp 44.2K
-23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.0K
$3.11 Rp 55.0K
-3.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 Rp 9,817
$0.31 Rp 5,577
77.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.28 Rp 181.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 Rp 20.4K
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
101.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 5,944
$0.58 Rp 10.2K
-41.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 Rp 51.2K
$2.69 Rp 47.5K
7.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-24.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K Rp 416.3M
$30.3K Rp 536.2M
-22.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 552.0M
$39.3K Rp 696.4M
-20.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 Rp 1.2M
$89.9 Rp 1.6M
-22.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$7.40 Rp 131.0K
-38.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.58 Rp 523.8K
$20.52 Rp 363.4K
44.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.45 Rp 433.0K
$65.8 Rp 1.2M
-62.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.64 Rp 153.1K
$21.34 Rp 377.8K
-59.51%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 Rp 50.5K
$5.21 Rp 92.3K
-45.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.7 Rp 1.7M
$544 Rp 9.6M
-82.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,923 Rp 122.6M
$6,707 Rp 118.8M
3.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.44 Rp 680.6K
$51.1 Rp 904.7K
-24.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.51 Rp 345.5K
$39.15 Rp 693.2K
-50.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$141 Rp 2.5M
$89.5 Rp 1.6M
57.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
$87.8 Rp 1.6M
-19.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 Rp 3.6M
$1,556 Rp 27.6M
-86.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$924 Rp 16.4M
-83.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$557 Rp 9.9M
$4,848 Rp 85.8M
-88.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 Rp 6.5M
$2,307 Rp 40.9M
-84.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,079 Rp 19.1M
$3,720 Rp 65.9M
-70.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$709 Rp 12.6M
$3,051 Rp 54.0M
-76.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balikpapan
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$245 Rp 4.3M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Balikpapan and $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Balikpapan vs $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $309 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Balikpapan and in Uluwatu, Bali?
Balikpapan and Uluwatu, Bali differ by about 151% in total monthly costs ($672 vs $1,685 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Balikpapan compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,009 in Balikpapan and $2,528 in Uluwatu, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Balikpapan and in Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Balikpapan versus $1,556 in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
Childcare runs $94.7 in Balikpapan versus $544 in Uluwatu, 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 $44.00 in Uluwatu, 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 $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Balikpapan and Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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