Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Uluwatu, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Makassar: $632 a month against $1,689 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Makassar
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$632
/mo nomad
Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,689
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makassar and in Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $632 in Makassar versus $1,689 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Makassar $632
  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,689

Estimated couple costs with rent: $977 in Makassar versus $2,842 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Makassar $977
  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,842

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,322 in Makassar versus $3,995 in Uluwatu, Bali.

  • Makassar $1,322
  • Uluwatu, Bali $3,995

Living in Makassar costs roughly 63% less than in Uluwatu, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Makassar is 53% below, Uluwatu, Bali is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.62 Rp 29.1K
$3.97 Rp 71.4K
-59.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.67 Rp 156.1K
$43.08 Rp 775.5K
-79.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$6.78 Rp 122.0K
-52.36%
Cappuccino
$1.92 Rp 34.6K
$3.27 Rp 58.9K
-41.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,457
$2.06 Rp 37.1K
-77.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 Rp 6,013
$0.92 Rp 16.5K
-64.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.45 Rp 44.1K
$3.29 Rp 59.3K
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 Rp 56.4K
$5.24 Rp 94.4K
-40.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.6K
$1.66 Rp 30.0K
-7.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 Rp 17.5K
$2.41 Rp 43.5K
-59.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
$1.27 Rp 22.9K
-55.12%
Eggs
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
-30.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.42 Rp 115.5K
$18.01 Rp 324.1K
-64.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 Rp 61.6K
$4.10 Rp 73.8K
-16.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.23 Rp 94.2K
$12.51 Rp 225.2K
-58.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 Rp 44.1K
$3.77 Rp 67.8K
-35.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.6K
$1.67 Rp 30.1K
-21.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 35.3K
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
-17.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
$2.08 Rp 37.4K
-39.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 23.1K
$1.96 Rp 35.2K
-34.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 26.6K
$2.46 Rp 44.3K
-39.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$1.07 Rp 19.3K
-30.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,988
$0.52 Rp 9,449
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60 Rp 46.9K
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
13.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.14 Rp 398.6K
$23.14 Rp 416.5K
-4.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 Rp 32.7K
$2.38 Rp 42.9K
-23.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.7K
$3.11 Rp 56.0K
-7.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,851
$0.31 Rp 5,626
-12.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.18 Rp 75.2K
$10.43 Rp 187.8K
-59.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 8,925
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
-10.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,710
$0.54 Rp 9,781
-31.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 Rp 48.0K
$2.59 Rp 46.5K
3.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.07 Rp 19.3K
-25.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 428.5M
$30.3K Rp 545.2M
-21.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 574.3M
$41.1K Rp 740.2M
-22.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 Rp 1.6M
$90.6 Rp 1.6M
-0.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.61 Rp 46.9K
$6.97 Rp 125.5K
-62.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.29 Rp 455.3K
$20.28 Rp 365.1K
24.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.58 Rp 388.5K
$65.1 Rp 1.2M
-66.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.40 Rp 151.1K
$21.04 Rp 378.8K
-60.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.36 Rp 60.5K
$4.95 Rp 89.1K
-32.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.2 Rp 1.7M
$559 Rp 10.1M
-83.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,803 Rp 68.5M
$6,408 Rp 115.3M
-40.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.97 Rp 485.5K
$48.86 Rp 879.5K
-44.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.43 Rp 421.7K
$37.79 Rp 680.3K
-38.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
$88.0 Rp 1.6M
-14.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.92 Rp 718.5K
$86.1 Rp 1.6M
-53.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$224 Rp 4.0M
$1,521 Rp 27.4M
-85.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$143 Rp 2.6M
$933 Rp 16.8M
-84.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.5M
$4,716 Rp 84.9M
-88.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 Rp 6.6M
$2,268 Rp 40.8M
-83.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,151 Rp 20.7M
$3,805 Rp 68.5M
-69.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$794 Rp 14.3M
$3,012 Rp 54.2M
-73.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$214 Rp 3.8M
-
-
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 17, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Makassar
$193
Uluwatu, Bali
$301 55.9% $108
Accommodation & Living
Makassar
$143
Uluwatu, Bali
$933 553% $790
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
$118
Uluwatu, Bali
$118 0.3% $0.3
Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
$74
Uluwatu, Bali
$117 57.8% $43
Eating Out
Makassar
$67
Uluwatu, Bali
$130 93.2% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
$28
Uluwatu, Bali
$75 165% $47
Getting Around
Makassar
$7.6
Uluwatu, Bali
$15 96.6% $7.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $224 in Makassar and $1,521 in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Makassar vs $43.00 in Uluwatu, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $301 per month, with Makassar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Makassar
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🕒 Local time
20:36 8:36 PM
20:36 8:36 PM
Same time as Makassar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,427,619
5,000
💱 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 Uluwatu, Bali 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Makassar
  • Uluwatu, 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makassar or Uluwatu, Bali?
Makassar wins on cost – living expenses run 167% 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 $948 in Makassar and $2,534 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: $224 in Makassar versus $1,521 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 150% 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 $94.2 in Makassar versus $559 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 $632 in Makassar versus $1,689 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 $632 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 167% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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