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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $656 per month in Samarinda vs $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,041 per month in Samarinda vs $2,887 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,425 per month in Samarinda vs $4,082 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Samarinda is about 61% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Samarinda sits 52% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
$4.21 Rp 74.8K
-60.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.84 Rp 245.9K
$46.88 Rp 832.8K
-70.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.41 Rp 60.6K
$6.86 Rp 121.8K
-50.29%
Cappuccino
$1.55 Rp 27.6K
$3.25 Rp 57.7K
-52.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,539
$2.01 Rp 35.7K
-79.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 Rp 4,423
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
-71.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 Rp 41.3K
$3.21 Rp 57.1K
-27.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 Rp 59.7K
$5.00 Rp 88.8K
-32.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 Rp 19.1K
$1.61 Rp 28.6K
-32.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 Rp 16.1K
$2.40 Rp 42.6K
-62.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$1.22 Rp 21.6K
-42.62%
Eggs
$1.40 Rp 24.9K
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
-36.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 Rp 134.0K
$18.63 Rp 330.9K
-59.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 65.6K
$4.27 Rp 75.8K
-13.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.21 Rp 181.3K
$12.94 Rp 229.8K
-21.10%
Apples (1kg)
$5.32 Rp 94.5K
$3.84 Rp 68.1K
38.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.5K
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-29.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.12 Rp 19.9K
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
-54.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 Rp 25.6K
$2.07 Rp 36.8K
-30.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.7K
$1.91 Rp 34.0K
-30.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 32.9K
$2.52 Rp 44.8K
-26.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
-31.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,405
$0.59 Rp 10.4K
-10.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 Rp 37.0K
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
-15.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.31 Rp 360.8K
$24.68 Rp 438.4K
-17.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
-22.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 Rp 47.5K
$3.01 Rp 53.5K
-11.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 Rp 4,952
$0.32 Rp 5,667
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.57 Rp 187.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 8,919
$0.61 Rp 10.9K
-18.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 Rp 5,946
$0.60 Rp 10.6K
-45.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 Rp 52.5K
$2.56 Rp 45.5K
15.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 Rp 13.2K
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
-27.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 457.8M
$30.9K Rp 548.7M
-16.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 552.2M
$39.7K Rp 706.2M
-21.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 Rp 1.2M
$90.1 Rp 1.6M
-25.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22 Rp 74.9K
$7.01 Rp 124.5K
-39.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.60 Rp 348.2K
$20.74 Rp 368.5K
-5.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.92 Rp 353.9K
$63.9 Rp 1.1M
-68.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.40 Rp 149.2K
$21.78 Rp 387.0K
-61.43%
Cinema Ticket
$2.87 Rp 51.0K
$5.23 Rp 92.9K
-45.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 Rp 1.9M
$553 Rp 9.8M
-80.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,991 Rp 159.7M
$6,619 Rp 117.6M
35.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.15 Rp 784.4K
$50.9 Rp 904.0K
-13.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.34 Rp 503.5K
$39.71 Rp 705.4K
-28.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 Rp 1.4M
$89.7 Rp 1.6M
-9.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.1 Rp 1.1M
$86.5 Rp 1.5M
-28.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 Rp 4.0M
$1,546 Rp 27.5M
-85.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 Rp 2.7M
$925 Rp 16.4M
-83.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$554 Rp 9.8M
$4,743 Rp 84.3M
-88.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 Rp 6.2M
$2,298 Rp 40.8M
-84.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,140 Rp 20.3M
$3,748 Rp 66.6M
-69.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$584 Rp 10.4M
$3,055 Rp 54.3M
-80.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 Rp 5.9M
-
-
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 Samarinda: September 1, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Samarinda versus $1,546 in Uluwatu, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Samarinda versus $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $309 – 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Samarinda and in Uluwatu, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $656 in Samarinda, $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali – roughly 158% apart. Uluwatu, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Samarinda compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $984 per month in Samarinda and $2,538 in Uluwatu, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Samarinda and Uluwatu, 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Samarinda and $47.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Uluwatu, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarinda, where all-in costs run around $656, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,692. In Samarinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Samarinda and Uluwatu, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Uluwatu, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $656 in Samarinda to $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Samarinda or Uluwatu, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Samarinda and Uluwatu, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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