🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $662 in Makassar versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in Makassar versus $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,347 in Makassar versus $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali.
🙂Living in Makassar costs roughly 61% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Makassar is 51% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13Rp 55.9K
$4.14Rp 74.0K
-24.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.45Rp 168.8K
$38.93Rp 695.2K
-75.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 53.2K
$5.99Rp 106.9K
-50.25%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$3.39Rp 60.6K
-48.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.7K
$1.61Rp 28.8K
-55.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39Rp 6,976
$0.88Rp 15.8K
-55.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.67Rp 65.5K
$3.53Rp 63.1K
3.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72Rp 66.4K
$4.59Rp 81.9K
-18.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63Rp 29.1K
$1.83Rp 32.7K
-10.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09Rp 19.4K
$2.66Rp 47.5K
-59.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$1.21Rp 21.5K
-47.11%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 25.8K
$2.53Rp 45.2K
-43.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.49Rp 98.0K
$15.46Rp 276.0K
-64.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.77Rp 49.5K
$4.56Rp 81.4K
-39.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.36Rp 77.8K
$12.51Rp 223.4K
-65.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 40.9K
$3.90Rp 69.6K
-41.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.3K
$1.63Rp 29.1K
0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 33.0K
$2.91Rp 52.0K
-36.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.0K
$2.38Rp 42.4K
-34.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.5K
$2.06Rp 36.8K
-38.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$2.37Rp 42.4K
-34.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41Rp 7,381
$1.08Rp 19.3K
-62.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,440
$0.74Rp 13.3K
-36.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56Rp 45.8K
$3.28Rp 58.6K
-21.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.53Rp 402.4K
$25.10Rp 448.3K
-10.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.4K
$3.00Rp 53.6K
-30.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48Rp 44.3K
$2.90Rp 51.8K
-14.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,720
$0.34Rp 6,057
-5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.51Rp 80.5K
$10.40Rp 185.7K
-56.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.0K
$0.60Rp 10.8K
-6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,115
$0.54Rp 9,583
-46.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.03Rp 54.1K
$7.56Rp 135.0K
-59.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$1.03Rp 18.4K
-24.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8KRp 299.6M
$32.2KRp 574.5M
-47.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7KRp 334.7M
$39.4KRp 703.6M
-52.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.5Rp 1.2M
$87.6Rp 1.6M
-24.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.50Rp 62.5K
$4.34Rp 77.5K
-19.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.44Rp 579.2K
$26.50Rp 473.2K
22.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.28Rp 415.8K
$112Rp 2.0M
-79.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.03Rp 107.6K
$7.62Rp 136.1K
-20.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16Rp 56.4K
$4.77Rp 85.2K
-33.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106Rp 1.9M
$347Rp 6.2M
-69.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,097Rp 73.2M
$7,491Rp 133.8M
-45.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.05Rp 536.6K
$60.3Rp 1.1M
-50.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.17Rp 449.4K
$42.64Rp 761.4K
-40.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.8Rp 1.5M
$97.5Rp 1.7M
-16.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.93Rp 784.5K
$85.2Rp 1.5M
-48.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$212Rp 3.8M
$1,335Rp 23.8M
-84.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168Rp 3.0M
$921Rp 16.5M
-81.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438Rp 7.8M
$4,567Rp 81.6M
-90.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 5.9M
$2,786Rp 49.8M
-88.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,167Rp 20.8M
$3,712Rp 66.3M
-68.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$737Rp 13.2M
$3,139Rp 56.1M
-76.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$218Rp 3.9M
-
-
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 Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Makassar and $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Makassar vs $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $315 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 157% 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 vs Uluwatu, Bali?
You'd need roughly $993 in Makassar and $2,550 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 vs Uluwatu, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $212 in Makassar versus $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Makassar vs Uluwatu, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 131% 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
Childcare runs $106 in Makassar versus $347 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 Uluwatu, Bali?
At $662 in Makassar versus $1,700 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 $662 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 157% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.