Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Denpasar, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Makassar: $641 a month against $901 in Denpasar, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Makassar
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$641
/mo nomad
Denpasar, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$901
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makassar and in Denpasar, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Makassar and in Denpasar, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $641 in Makassar versus $901 in Denpasar, Bali.

  • Makassar $641
  • Denpasar, Bali $901

Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Makassar versus $1,508 in Denpasar, Bali.

  • Makassar $985
  • Denpasar, Bali $1,508

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,328 in Makassar versus $2,114 in Denpasar, Bali.

  • Makassar $1,328
  • Denpasar, Bali $2,114

Living in Makassar costs roughly 29% less than in Denpasar, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makassar 53% lower, Denpasar, Bali 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
-21.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.88 Rp 159.8K
$23.40 Rp 421.2K
-62.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.15 Rp 56.7K
$3.76 Rp 67.7K
-16.22%
Cappuccino
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.84 Rp 33.1K
4.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 9,030
$1.08 Rp 19.4K
-53.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,497
$0.58 Rp 10.5K
-37.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 Rp 44.8K
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
43.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 Rp 59.4K
$2.86 Rp 51.5K
15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.22 Rp 22.0K
30.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
$1.87 Rp 33.6K
-47.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
$0.94 Rp 16.9K
-34.04%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
-14.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.29 Rp 113.3K
$13.93 Rp 250.7K
-54.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 61.9K
$3.21 Rp 57.8K
7.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.24 Rp 94.3K
$9.96 Rp 179.2K
-47.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.3K
$2.84 Rp 51.1K
-17.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.5K
$1.31 Rp 23.5K
3.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.3K
$1.82 Rp 32.8K
4.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.4K
$1.61 Rp 29.1K
15.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.6K
$1.48 Rp 26.6K
-15.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.2K
$1.94 Rp 34.9K
-19.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.77 Rp 13.9K
-5.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,526
$0.44 Rp 7,874
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 Rp 47.4K
$1.84 Rp 33.2K
42.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.11 Rp 398.0K
$18.51 Rp 333.2K
19.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 Rp 32.7K
$1.92 Rp 34.6K
-5.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 54.0K
$2.38 Rp 42.8K
26.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,854
$0.22 Rp 3,947
22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.30 Rp 77.5K
$7.14 Rp 128.5K
-39.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,781
$0.39 Rp 7,042
25.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,271
$0.42 Rp 7,509
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 Rp 47.9K
$3.13 Rp 56.4K
-15.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$0.74 Rp 13.4K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 430.8M
$22.1K Rp 397.2M
8.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K Rp 557.0M
$28.1K Rp 506.3M
10.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.0 Rp 1.6M
$74.5 Rp 1.3M
19.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.71 Rp 48.7K
$5.86 Rp 105.5K
-53.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.90 Rp 448.1K
$16.81 Rp 302.6K
48.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.47 Rp 386.5K
$39.47 Rp 710.5K
-45.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.40 Rp 151.1K
$13.07 Rp 235.3K
-35.73%
Cinema Ticket
$3.36 Rp 60.5K
$3.16 Rp 56.9K
6.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.5 Rp 1.7M
$373 Rp 6.7M
-74.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,746 Rp 67.4M
$4,499 Rp 81.0M
-16.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.95 Rp 485.2K
$38.34 Rp 690.1K
-29.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.52 Rp 423.3K
$30.00 Rp 540.1K
-21.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 Rp 1.4M
$68.9 Rp 1.2M
9.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.00 Rp 720.0K
$67.1 Rp 1.2M
-40.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 Rp 4.2M
$589 Rp 10.6M
-60.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 Rp 2.7M
$349 Rp 6.3M
-57.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$546 Rp 9.8M
$1,874 Rp 33.7M
-70.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 Rp 6.5M
$901 Rp 16.2M
-60.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,159 Rp 20.9M
$1,429 Rp 25.7M
-18.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 Rp 14.5M
$1,194 Rp 21.5M
-32.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$214 Rp 3.8M
$279 Rp 5.0M
-23.28%
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 Makassar: October 11, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Makassar
$197
Denpasar, Bali
$235 19.2% $38
Accommodation & Living
Makassar
$148
Denpasar, Bali
$349 136% $201
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
$117
Denpasar, Bali
$97 16.6% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
$75
Denpasar, Bali
$92 23.3% $17
Eating Out
Makassar
$69
Denpasar, Bali
$72 4.5% $3.1
Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
$28
Denpasar, Bali
$46 62.4% $18
Getting Around
Makassar
$7.6
Denpasar, Bali
$10 37.8% $2.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $232 in Makassar and $589 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 30% 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: $9.00 in Makassar vs $23.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $235 per month, with Makassar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Makassar
🇮🇩 Denpasar, Bali
🕒 Local time
16:55 4:55 PM
16:55 4:55 PM
Same time as Makassar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,427,619
788,445
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Makassar Denpasar, Bali 610 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Makassar
  • Denpasar, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Makassar and in Denpasar, Bali?
Makassar and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($641 vs $901 including rent). Makassar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Denpasar, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Makassar and in Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $232 in Makassar versus $589 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Makassar or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $641 per month in Makassar versus $901 in Denpasar, Bali – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Makassar and in Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 66% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $641 in Makassar versus $901 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.
How does quality of life compare between Makassar and Denpasar, 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 Makassar or Denpasar, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Makassar and Denpasar, 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: Makassar or Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Makassar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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