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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $662 per month in Makassar vs $1,288 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,005 per month in Makassar vs $2,328 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,347 per month in Makassar vs $3,367 in Bali, rent included.

Makassar is about 49% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makassar and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Makassar 51% lower, Bali 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
$2.97 Rp 53.0K
5.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.45 Rp 168.8K
$26.53 Rp 473.8K
-64.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.98 Rp 53.2K
$4.09 Rp 73.0K
-27.14%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$2.25 Rp 40.2K
-22.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.7K
$1.14 Rp 20.4K
-37.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,976
$0.62 Rp 11.1K
-37.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.67 Rp 65.5K
$2.42 Rp 43.2K
51.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 Rp 66.4K
$3.30 Rp 58.9K
12.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
$1.73 Rp 30.8K
-5.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 Rp 19.4K
$2.42 Rp 43.2K
-54.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$1.15 Rp 20.5K
-44.35%
Eggs
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
$2.31 Rp 41.2K
-37.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.49 Rp 98.0K
$13.70 Rp 244.6K
-59.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.77 Rp 49.5K
$4.13 Rp 73.8K
-32.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 77.8K
$11.33 Rp 202.3K
-61.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 40.9K
$3.45 Rp 61.7K
-33.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 29.3K
$1.53 Rp 27.2K
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.0K
$2.70 Rp 48.2K
-31.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.0K
$2.15 Rp 38.3K
-26.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 22.5K
$1.83 Rp 32.6K
-31.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$2.13 Rp 38.0K
-26.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 Rp 7,381
$0.98 Rp 17.5K
-58.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,440
$0.67 Rp 12.0K
-29.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 Rp 45.8K
$3.16 Rp 56.5K
-18.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.53 Rp 402.4K
$22.80 Rp 407.1K
-1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 Rp 37.4K
$2.65 Rp 47.3K
-20.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 Rp 44.3K
$2.72 Rp 48.6K
-8.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,720
$0.27 Rp 4,782
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.51 Rp 80.5K
$8.46 Rp 151.1K
-46.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$0.46 Rp 8,160
21.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 5,115
$0.46 Rp 8,176
-36.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 Rp 54.1K
$6.00 Rp 107.2K
-49.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.82 Rp 14.6K
-4.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K Rp 299.6M
$26.0K Rp 464.2M
-35.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K Rp 334.7M
$31.9K Rp 569.1M
-41.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.5 Rp 1.2M
$79.7 Rp 1.4M
-16.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.50 Rp 62.5K
$3.92 Rp 70.0K
-10.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.44 Rp 579.2K
$24.36 Rp 434.9K
33.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.28 Rp 415.8K
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
-71.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.03 Rp 107.6K
$5.30 Rp 94.6K
13.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16 Rp 56.4K
$3.44 Rp 61.5K
-8.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 Rp 1.9M
$267 Rp 4.8M
-60.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,097 Rp 73.2M
$5,920 Rp 105.7M
-30.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.05 Rp 536.6K
$51.0 Rp 910.9K
-41.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.17 Rp 449.4K
$36.67 Rp 654.8K
-31.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.8 Rp 1.5M
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
-2.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.93 Rp 784.5K
$74.8 Rp 1.3M
-41.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$212 Rp 3.8M
$854 Rp 15.3M
-75.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$574 Rp 10.2M
-70.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 Rp 7.8M
$2,981 Rp 53.2M
-85.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 Rp 5.9M
$1,784 Rp 31.9M
-81.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,167 Rp 20.8M
$2,374 Rp 42.4M
-50.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$737 Rp 13.2M
$1,973 Rp 35.2M
-62.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$218 Rp 3.9M
$223 Rp 4.0M
-2.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
13.28
-54.82%

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

Last update for Makassar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Makassar versus $854 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Makassar versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $285 – making Makassar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Makassar vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makassar or Bali?
Bali costs about 94% more than Makassar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Makassar vs Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $993 per month in Makassar and $1,932 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Makassar or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Makassar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Makassar vs Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Makassar and $27.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Makassar compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $662 in Makassar and $1,288 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Makassar or Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Makassar, where all-in costs run around $662, than in Bali at $1,288. In Makassar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Makassar or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Makassar costs $662 versus $1,288 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Makassar compared to Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Makassar or Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Makassar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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