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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $944 in Denpasar, Bali versus $711 in Samarinda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,661 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,092 in Samarinda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,379 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,474 in Samarinda.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 33% more expensive than Samarinda, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Samarinda 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.57 Rp 27.8K

45.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.46 Rp 380.1K

$12.17 Rp 215.6K

76.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.35 Rp 59.4K

$5.76 Rp 102.0K

-41.84%

Cappuccino

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

$1.72 Rp 30.4K

6.40%

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

$0.94 Rp 16.6K

$0.53 Rp 9,357

77.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,212

$0.42 Rp 7,398

9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$2.50 Rp 44.3K

-22.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 Rp 46.3K

$3.48 Rp 61.6K

-24.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.6K

$1.22 Rp 21.6K

18.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 Rp 35.1K

$0.97 Rp 17.1K

104.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.4K

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

28.95%

Eggs

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.60 Rp 28.4K

19.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 213.5K

$8.19 Rp 145.0K

47.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 Rp 61.7K

$4.00 Rp 70.8K

-12.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 Rp 174.9K

$11.17 Rp 197.9K

-11.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 Rp 53.4K

$5.70 Rp 101.0K

-47.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$1.22 Rp 21.5K

6.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

98.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

$1.61 Rp 28.6K

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.2K

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

1.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.0K

$1.97 Rp 34.9K

-8.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.95 Rp 16.9K

-15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.56 Rp 9,899

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 Rp 45.3K

$2.27 Rp 40.2K

12.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.31 Rp 342.0K

$21.72 Rp 384.8K

-11.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

$2.05 Rp 36.4K

12.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

$3.19 Rp 56.4K

-27.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,212

$0.30 Rp 5,310

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.51 Rp 133.1K

$10.02 Rp 177.5K

-25.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 Rp 7,231

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

-56.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 Rp 6,831

$0.34 Rp 6,077

14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 Rp 97.1K

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

85.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

15.87%

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

$23.0K Rp 407.9M

$24.2K Rp 429.4M

-4.99%

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

$28.7K Rp 508.0M

$27.7K Rp 491.5M

3.36%

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

$72.5 Rp 1.3M

$69.2 Rp 1.2M

4.90%

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

$3.54 Rp 62.8K

$4.21 Rp 74.6K

-15.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.75 Rp 385.4K

$22.53 Rp 399.1K

-3.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

$22.64 Rp 401.1K

201.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 Rp 79.5K

$5.98 Rp 106.0K

-24.92%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 Rp 51.3K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

-6.47%

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

$236 Rp 4.2M

$92.5 Rp 1.6M

154.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,148 Rp 91.2M

$7,495 Rp 132.8M

-31.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.50 Rp 823.7K

$41.12 Rp 728.4K

13.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.43 Rp 592.2K

$30.13 Rp 533.8K

10.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 Rp 1.3M

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

11.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.7 Rp 1.2M

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

-7.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 Rp 9.4M

$257 Rp 4.6M

106.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 Rp 6.3M

$156 Rp 2.8M

127.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,767 Rp 31.3M

$577 Rp 10.2M

206.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 Rp 18.8M

$337 Rp 6.0M

215.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,465 Rp 26.0M

$1,177 Rp 20.9M

24.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,214 Rp 21.5M

$645 Rp 11.4M

88.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 Rp 5.9M

$331 Rp 5.9M

0.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Samarinda: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $532 in Denpasar, Bali and $257 in Samarinda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 1% 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: $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $12.00 in Samarinda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $237 per month, with Samarinda 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 Samarinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Samarinda differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($944 vs $711 including rent). Samarinda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Denpasar, Bali pays 1% 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: $532 in Denpasar, Bali versus $257 in Samarinda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $944 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $711 in Samarinda – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Samarinda runs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $711 in Samarinda versus $944 in Denpasar, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Samarinda but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Samarinda 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 Samarinda 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 Samarinda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.