Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarinda and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarinda and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Samarinda versus $959 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,067 in Samarinda versus $1,681 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,439 in Samarinda versus $2,404 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Samarinda costs roughly 27% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Samarinda 48% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$2.41 Rp 43.5K

-36.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.05 Rp 217.5K

$22.01 Rp 397.4K

-45.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 Rp 106.0K

$3.25 Rp 58.7K

80.62%

Cappuccino

$1.65 Rp 29.8K

$1.80 Rp 32.5K

-8.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,909

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

-43.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,902

$0.47 Rp 8,400

-19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 Rp 44.6K

$1.95 Rp 35.2K

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 Rp 64.7K

$2.60 Rp 47.0K

37.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 Rp 21.1K

$1.44 Rp 26.0K

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$2.03 Rp 36.7K

-54.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 Rp 13.9K

$0.91 Rp 16.4K

-15.38%

Eggs

$1.59 Rp 28.6K

$1.97 Rp 35.5K

-19.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 Rp 143.6K

$11.81 Rp 213.2K

-32.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 Rp 71.8K

$3.42 Rp 61.7K

16.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 Rp 197.5K

$9.84 Rp 177.6K

11.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 Rp 102.6K

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

83.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.8K

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

-3.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

$2.21 Rp 39.9K

-45.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$1.90 Rp 34.3K

-16.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 Rp 26.1K

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

-5.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 Rp 36.5K

$1.87 Rp 33.8K

8.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 Rp 16.5K

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

10.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 10.0K

$0.59 Rp 10.6K

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 40.9K

$2.63 Rp 47.4K

-14.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.14 Rp 363.6K

$18.57 Rp 335.3K

8.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 Rp 36.7K

$2.27 Rp 40.9K

-10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 Rp 58.0K

$2.23 Rp 40.2K

43.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,810

$0.26 Rp 4,720

23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.05 Rp 181.4K

$7.54 Rp 136.1K

33.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 Rp 17.0K

$0.44 Rp 7,948

113.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,821

$0.42 Rp 7,497

-9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 Rp 51.4K

$5.66 Rp 102.2K

-49.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

$0.72 Rp 13.1K

-11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 441.9M

$23.9K Rp 431.9M

2.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.4K Rp 495.4M

$28.4K Rp 513.6M

-3.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.0 Rp 1.3M

$71.0 Rp 1.3M

-1.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.32 Rp 78.1K

$3.55 Rp 64.2K

21.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.17 Rp 418.2K

$21.30 Rp 384.6K

8.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.10 Rp 417.0K

$67.6 Rp 1.2M

-65.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 Rp 108.3K

$4.47 Rp 80.8K

34.23%

Cinema Ticket

$3.15 Rp 56.8K

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

12.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$95.0 Rp 1.7M

$234 Rp 4.2M

-59.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,587 Rp 137.0M

$5,006 Rp 90.4M

51.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.68 Rp 752.4K

$46.68 Rp 842.7K

-10.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.38 Rp 548.5K

$32.96 Rp 595.0K

-7.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$75.0 Rp 1.4M

-10.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 Rp 1.4M

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

14.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 Rp 4.6M

$530 Rp 9.6M

-51.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$347 Rp 6.3M

-55.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 Rp 10.5M

$1,790 Rp 32.3M

-67.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 Rp 6.1M

$1,096 Rp 19.8M

-69.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,237 Rp 22.3M

$1,426 Rp 25.7M

-13.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$667 Rp 12.0M

$1,171 Rp 21.1M

-43.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$322 Rp 5.8M

$279 Rp 5.0M

15.42%

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 Denpasar, Bali: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Samarinda and $530 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Samarinda pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Samarinda vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $242 per month, with Samarinda 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

Samarinda vs Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Samarinda and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($696 vs $959 including rent). Samarinda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Samarinda, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Samarinda versus $530 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Samarinda versus $959 in Denpasar, Bali – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Samarinda runs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $696 in Samarinda versus $959 in Denpasar, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Samarinda but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Samarinda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Samarinda and Denpasar, 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.

Expats usually find Samarinda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.