🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $665 in Makassar versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,003 in Makassar versus $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,341 in Makassar versus $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🌍Living in Makassar costs roughly 62% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Makassar is 50% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03Rp 54.2K
$4.27Rp 76.3K
-29.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.36Rp 167.5K
$39.90Rp 713.9K
-76.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.00Rp 53.7K
$6.16Rp 110.1K
-51.30%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-45.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.7K
$1.62Rp 29.0K
-59.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,117
$0.89Rp 15.8K
-55.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.61Rp 64.6K
$3.53Rp 63.2K
2.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63Rp 64.9K
$4.76Rp 85.1K
-23.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-12.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$2.63Rp 47.1K
-58.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.27Rp 22.7K
-49.61%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$2.57Rp 45.9K
-44.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.37Rp 96.1K
$15.13Rp 270.6K
-64.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$4.37Rp 78.2K
-35.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.26Rp 76.2K
$12.43Rp 222.3K
-65.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 40.0K
$3.96Rp 70.9K
-43.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.4K
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-2.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83Rp 32.7K
$2.90Rp 51.9K
-36.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.0K
$2.35Rp 42.0K
-33.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25Rp 22.4K
$2.00Rp 35.8K
-37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$2.30Rp 41.2K
-32.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45Rp 7,975
$1.08Rp 19.3K
-58.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,444
$0.81Rp 14.5K
-41.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-23.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.33Rp 399.5K
$24.45Rp 437.4K
-8.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.1K
$2.89Rp 51.8K
-30.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43Rp 43.4K
$2.87Rp 51.3K
-15.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,280
$0.36Rp 6,489
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.56Rp 81.7K
$10.28Rp 184.0K
-55.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.1K
$0.57Rp 10.1K
-1.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,112
$0.57Rp 10.2K
-49.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13Rp 55.9K
$7.63Rp 136.4K
-58.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$1.06Rp 18.9K
-26.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7KRp 298.9M
$32.2KRp 575.4M
-48.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4KRp 330.0M
$40.3KRp 720.3M
-54.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.8Rp 1.2M
$88.2Rp 1.6M
-24.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.59Rp 64.2K
$4.47Rp 80.0K
-19.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.49Rp 581.2K
$26.05Rp 466.1K
24.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.23Rp 415.6K
$115Rp 2.1M
-79.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.09Rp 109.0K
$7.75Rp 138.7K
-21.42%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$4.70Rp 84.1K
-32.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106Rp 1.9M
$339Rp 6.1M
-68.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,103Rp 73.4M
$7,595Rp 135.9M
-45.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.14Rp 521.3K
$60.8Rp 1.1M
-52.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.17Rp 450.3K
$42.63Rp 762.7K
-40.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$97.9Rp 1.8M
-15.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.19Rp 772.7K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-49.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214Rp 3.8M
$1,369Rp 24.5M
-84.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168Rp 3.0M
$920Rp 16.5M
-81.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425Rp 7.6M
$4,495Rp 80.4M
-90.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$2,803Rp 50.2M
-87.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,355Rp 24.2M
$3,751Rp 67.1M
-63.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$545Rp 9.8M
$3,040Rp 54.4M
-82.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$209Rp 3.7M
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Makassar and $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Makassar vs $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $312 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
Makassar vs Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makassar or Uluwatu, Bali?
Makassar wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makassar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Makassar and in Uluwatu, Bali?
You'd need roughly $997 in Makassar and $2,638 in Uluwatu, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Makassar compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Makassar versus $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Makassar compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 125% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Makassar and in Uluwatu, Bali?
Childcare runs $106 in Makassar versus $339 in Uluwatu, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Makassar or in Uluwatu, Bali?
At $665 in Makassar versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makassar but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Makassar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Makassar or Uluwatu, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makassar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $665 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makassar hard to pass up.
How safe is Makassar compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
Safety-wise, Makassar and Uluwatu, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makassar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.