Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarinda and Bali Cost 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 – Samarinda 48% lower, Bali 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
$2.88 Rp 51.9K
-47.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.05 Rp 217.5K
$26.92 Rp 486.0K
-55.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.87 Rp 106.0K
$4.08 Rp 73.6K
43.87%
Cappuccino
$1.65 Rp 29.8K
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
-27.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,909
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
-57.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 Rp 6,902
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
-38.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 Rp 44.6K
$2.39 Rp 43.2K
3.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 Rp 64.7K
$3.33 Rp 60.1K
7.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$1.70 Rp 30.6K
-31.18%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
$2.38 Rp 43.0K
-60.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 Rp 13.9K
$1.14 Rp 20.6K
-32.46%
Eggs
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$2.33 Rp 42.1K
-31.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.96 Rp 143.6K
$14.18 Rp 256.1K
-43.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 Rp 71.8K
$4.14 Rp 74.7K
-3.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 Rp 197.5K
$11.65 Rp 210.4K
-6.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.68 Rp 102.6K
$3.47 Rp 62.7K
63.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 22.8K
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
-17.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.6K
$2.59 Rp 46.7K
-53.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.5K
$2.13 Rp 38.4K
-25.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 Rp 26.1K
$1.81 Rp 32.7K
-19.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 36.5K
$2.19 Rp 39.6K
-7.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 Rp 16.5K
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
-4.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 10.0K
$0.72 Rp 13.1K
-23.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 Rp 40.9K
$3.02 Rp 54.4K
-25.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.14 Rp 363.6K
$21.76 Rp 392.8K
-7.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 Rp 36.7K
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
-23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 Rp 58.0K
$2.69 Rp 48.7K
19.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,810
$0.27 Rp 4,830
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.05 Rp 181.4K
$8.22 Rp 148.3K
22.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
$0.46 Rp 8,227
104.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,821
$0.42 Rp 7,591
-9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 Rp 51.4K
$6.23 Rp 112.5K
-54.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
-18.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 441.9M
$26.2K Rp 473.0M
-6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K Rp 495.4M
$32.6K Rp 588.6M
-15.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.0 Rp 1.3M
$80.2 Rp 1.4M
-12.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32 Rp 78.1K
$3.93 Rp 70.9K
9.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.17 Rp 418.2K
$23.58 Rp 425.7K
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.10 Rp 417.0K
$80.3 Rp 1.4M
-71.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00 Rp 108.3K
$5.51 Rp 99.5K
8.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15 Rp 56.8K
$3.47 Rp 62.6K
-9.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.0 Rp 1.7M
$277 Rp 5.0M
-65.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,587 Rp 137.0M
$6,008 Rp 108.5M
26.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.68 Rp 752.4K
$51.4 Rp 927.3K
-18.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38 Rp 548.5K
$36.41 Rp 657.3K
-16.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 Rp 1.2M
$82.5 Rp 1.5M
-18.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3 Rp 1.4M
$74.8 Rp 1.3M
0.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 Rp 4.6M
$867 Rp 15.7M
-70.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$574 Rp 10.4M
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 Rp 10.5M
$2,974 Rp 53.7M
-80.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 Rp 6.1M
$1,779 Rp 32.1M
-81.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,237 Rp 22.3M
$2,411 Rp 43.5M
-48.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$667 Rp 12.0M
$1,981 Rp 35.8M
-66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$322 Rp 5.8M
$224 Rp 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.

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