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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Denpasar, Bali versus $790 in Balikpapan.

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

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

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 20% more expensive than Balikpapan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

49.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 Rp 388.7K

$15.44 Rp 276.6K

40.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 Rp 58.0K

$3.40 Rp 60.9K

-5.00%

Cappuccino

$1.90 Rp 34.1K

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

6.74%

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

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

$0.41 Rp 7,283

129.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,337

$0.42 Rp 7,440

11.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$1.95 Rp 35.0K

2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

-14.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.82 Rp 32.5K

-19.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

54.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

-25.76%

Eggs

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-28.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.75 Rp 210.4K

$8.32 Rp 149.0K

41.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 Rp 60.5K

$4.97 Rp 89.0K

-31.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 Rp 176.0K

$7.85 Rp 140.6K

25.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

$3.80 Rp 68.0K

-21.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

-14.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$2.18 Rp 39.0K

4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$1.24 Rp 22.3K

45.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$1.88 Rp 33.8K

-16.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 31.8K

$3.66 Rp 65.6K

-51.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

-14.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.79 Rp 14.1K

-20.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

$2.09 Rp 37.5K

23.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.61 Rp 333.4K

$21.13 Rp 378.6K

-11.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$2.16 Rp 38.7K

3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 Rp 41.5K

$4.32 Rp 77.5K

-46.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,288

$0.59 Rp 10.5K

-59.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.50 Rp 134.4K

$9.60 Rp 172.0K

-21.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 Rp 7,327

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

-65.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,836

$0.37 Rp 6,671

2.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 Rp 100.5K

$6.23 Rp 111.5K

-9.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

4.05%

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

$23.6K Rp 422.0M

$24.7K Rp 441.8M

-4.49%

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

$29.3K Rp 524.1M

$25.8K Rp 462.3M

13.37%

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

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$91.0 Rp 1.6M

-20.83%

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

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

$3.09 Rp 55.3K

19.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.33 Rp 382.1K

$31.94 Rp 572.2K

-33.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

$21.58 Rp 386.6K

218.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 Rp 81.2K

$6.17 Rp 110.6K

-26.58%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

-8.54%

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

$232 Rp 4.2M

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

281.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,015 Rp 89.9M

$7,560 Rp 135.4M

-33.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.98 Rp 841.7K

$41.36 Rp 741.0K

13.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.75 Rp 586.7K

$20.79 Rp 372.5K

57.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

$125 Rp 2.2M

-40.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$122 Rp 2.2M

-45.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 Rp 9.2M

$218 Rp 3.9M

136.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 Rp 6.3M

$156 Rp 2.8M

124.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 Rp 31.9M

$493 Rp 8.8M

261.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 Rp 19.4M

$310 Rp 5.6M

248.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 Rp 26.0M

$1,135 Rp 20.3M

27.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

$625 Rp 11.2M

89.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 Rp 5.8M

$195 Rp 3.5M

66.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-11.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 7, 2026

Last update for Balikpapan: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Denpasar, Bali and $218 in Balikpapan. 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: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $15.00 in Balikpapan. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $252, 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

Denpasar, Bali vs Balikpapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Denpasar, Bali pays 66% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Denpasar, Bali versus $218 in Balikpapan. 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 $232 in Denpasar, Bali versus $60.9 in Balikpapan. 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, Denpasar, Bali and Balikpapan 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.