Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarinda and BaliCost of Living Comparison Between Samarinda and Bali
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $696 per month in Samarinda vs $1,265 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,067 per month in Samarinda vs $2,300 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,439 per month in Samarinda vs $3,334 in Bali, rent included.
🙂Samarinda is about 45% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Samarinda and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Samarinda48% lower, Bali5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$2.88Rp 51.9K
-47.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.05Rp 217.5K
$26.92Rp 486.0K
-55.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.87Rp 106.0K
$4.08Rp 73.6K
43.87%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 29.8K
$2.29Rp 41.4K
-27.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,909
$1.16Rp 20.9K
-57.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,902
$0.62Rp 11.2K
-38.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Rp 44.6K
$2.39Rp 43.2K
3.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58Rp 64.7K
$3.33Rp 60.1K
7.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.1K
$1.70Rp 30.6K
-31.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-60.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$1.14Rp 20.6K
-32.46%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.6K
$2.33Rp 42.1K
-31.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.96Rp 143.6K
$14.18Rp 256.1K
-43.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.98Rp 71.8K
$4.14Rp 74.7K
-3.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94Rp 197.5K
$11.65Rp 210.4K
-6.09%
Apples(1kg)
$5.68Rp 102.6K
$3.47Rp 62.7K
63.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.8K
$1.52Rp 27.5K
-17.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.6K
$2.59Rp 46.7K
-53.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.5K
$2.13Rp 38.4K
-25.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45Rp 26.1K
$1.81Rp 32.7K
-19.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02Rp 36.5K
$2.19Rp 39.6K
-7.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.5K
$0.95Rp 17.2K
-4.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 10.0K
$0.72Rp 13.1K
-23.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26Rp 40.9K
$3.02Rp 54.4K
-25.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.14Rp 363.6K
$21.76Rp 392.8K
-7.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 36.7K
$2.67Rp 48.1K
-23.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 58.0K
$2.69Rp 48.7K
19.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,810
$0.27Rp 4,830
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05Rp 181.4K
$8.22Rp 148.3K
22.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$0.46Rp 8,227
104.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,821
$0.42Rp 7,591
-9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.85Rp 51.4K
$6.23Rp 112.5K
-54.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$0.79Rp 14.3K
-18.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 441.9M
$26.2KRp 473.0M
-6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRp 495.4M
$32.6KRp 588.6M
-15.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0Rp 1.3M
$80.2Rp 1.4M
-12.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 78.1K
$3.93Rp 70.9K
9.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.17Rp 418.2K
$23.58Rp 425.7K
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.10Rp 417.0K
$80.3Rp 1.4M
-71.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 108.3K
$5.51Rp 99.5K
8.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15Rp 56.8K
$3.47Rp 62.6K
-9.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.0Rp 1.7M
$277Rp 5.0M
-65.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,587Rp 137.0M
$6,008Rp 108.5M
26.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.68Rp 752.4K
$51.4Rp 927.3K
-18.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38Rp 548.5K
$36.41Rp 657.3K
-16.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$82.5Rp 1.5M
-18.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3Rp 1.4M
$74.8Rp 1.3M
0.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$867Rp 15.7M
-70.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$574Rp 10.4M
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.5M
$2,974Rp 53.7M
-80.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337Rp 6.1M
$1,779Rp 32.1M
-81.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,237Rp 22.3M
$2,411Rp 43.5M
-48.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$667Rp 12.0M
$1,981Rp 35.8M
-66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$322Rp 5.8M
$224Rp 4.0M
43.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.28
-31.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samarinda: July 26, 2026
Last update for Bali: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Samarinda versus $867 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 44% higher in Samarinda, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Samarinda versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $285 – making Samarinda 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
Samarinda vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Samarinda or Bali?
Bali costs about 82% more than Samarinda, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 Samarinda and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,044 per month in Samarinda and $1,898 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Samarinda or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, 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 Samarinda and in Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Samarinda 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 Samarinda compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $696 in Samarinda and $1,265 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Samarinda or in Bali?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $696, than in Bali at $1,265. In Samarinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Samarinda or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samarinda costs $696 versus $1,265 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Samarinda 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 Samarinda or to Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. 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.