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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $961 in Denpasar, Bali versus $662 in Makassar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,005 in Makassar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,347 in Makassar.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 45% more expensive than Makassar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 28% lower, Makassar 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

-23.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.74 Rp 388.3K

$9.45 Rp 168.8K

130.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.26 Rp 58.2K

$2.98 Rp 53.2K

9.40%

Cappuccino

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

8.62%

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

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

$0.71 Rp 12.7K

29.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,368

$0.39 Rp 6,976

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

$3.67 Rp 65.5K

-47.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.7K

$3.72 Rp 66.4K

-31.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-11.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 Rp 36.5K

$1.09 Rp 19.4K

87.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

43.75%

Eggs

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.89 Rp 212.4K

$5.49 Rp 98.0K

116.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

23.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.95 Rp 177.7K

$4.36 Rp 77.8K

128.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 55.2K

$2.29 Rp 40.9K

34.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

$1.64 Rp 29.3K

-23.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 Rp 39.6K

$1.85 Rp 33.0K

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.57 Rp 28.0K

15.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

$1.26 Rp 22.5K

27.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.41 Rp 7,381

109.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,440

21.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 Rp 47.1K

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.27 Rp 344.2K

$22.53 Rp 402.4K

-14.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

$2.10 Rp 37.4K

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 39.8K

$2.48 Rp 44.3K

-10.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,257

$0.32 Rp 5,720

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.34 Rp 131.0K

$4.51 Rp 80.5K

62.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,813

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

-21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 Rp 6,914

$0.29 Rp 5,115

34.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 Rp 97.2K

$3.03 Rp 54.1K

79.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-5.13%

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

$23.5K Rp 420.5M

$16.8K Rp 299.6M

40.35%

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

$29.1K Rp 520.1M

$18.7K Rp 334.7M

55.40%

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

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

$66.5 Rp 1.2M

5.99%

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

$3.67 Rp 65.5K

$3.50 Rp 62.5K

4.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.23 Rp 379.1K

$32.44 Rp 579.2K

-34.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

$23.28 Rp 415.8K

198.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.45 Rp 79.5K

$6.03 Rp 107.6K

-26.20%

Cinema Ticket

$2.91 Rp 52.0K

$3.16 Rp 56.4K

-7.91%

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

$227 Rp 4.1M

$106 Rp 1.9M

113.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 Rp 92.7M

$4,097 Rp 73.2M

26.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.61 Rp 850.2K

$30.05 Rp 536.6K

58.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 Rp 579.4K

$25.17 Rp 449.4K

28.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

$81.8 Rp 1.5M

-6.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

$43.93 Rp 784.5K

51.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.4M

$212 Rp 3.8M

148.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 Rp 6.1M

$168 Rp 3.0M

104.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,801 Rp 32.2M

$438 Rp 7.8M

311.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 Rp 19.0M

$333 Rp 5.9M

219.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,476 Rp 26.4M

$1,167 Rp 20.8M

26.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

$737 Rp 13.2M

60.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$335 Rp 6.0M

$218 Rp 3.9M

53.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

121.33%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Makassar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $212 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 54% 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 $9.00 in Makassar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $190 per month, with Makassar 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

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

Denpasar, Bali and Makassar differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($961 vs $662 including rent). Makassar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Denpasar, Bali pays 54% 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: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $212 in Makassar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $961 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $662 in Makassar – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 63% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $662 in Makassar versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makassar but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Makassar 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 Makassar 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 Makassar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.