Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarinda and Uluwatu, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Samarinda: $647 a month against $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Samarinda
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$647
/mo nomad
Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $647 per month in Samarinda vs $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

  • Samarinda $647
  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,692

A couple spends around $1,021 per month in Samarinda vs $2,873 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

  • Samarinda $1,021
  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,873

A family of three spends $1,395 per month in Samarinda vs $4,054 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

  • Samarinda $1,395
  • Uluwatu, Bali $4,054

Samarinda is about 62% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Samarinda sits 52% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.70 Rp 30.6K
$3.94 Rp 70.9K
-56.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.69 Rp 246.4K
$42.05 Rp 757.0K
-67.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.35 Rp 60.2K
$6.72 Rp 120.9K
-50.15%
Cappuccino
$1.53 Rp 27.5K
$3.25 Rp 58.5K
-52.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 7,903
$2.09 Rp 37.5K
-78.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 Rp 4,499
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
-73.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
$3.14 Rp 56.6K
-27.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$5.44 Rp 97.9K
-36.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 Rp 19.2K
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
-34.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$2.38 Rp 42.9K
-65.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 Rp 12.8K
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
-44.96%
Eggs
$1.40 Rp 25.3K
$2.27 Rp 40.9K
-38.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.21 Rp 129.9K
$18.59 Rp 334.5K
-61.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.61 Rp 65.0K
$4.18 Rp 75.2K
-13.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.04 Rp 180.7K
$12.92 Rp 232.5K
-22.29%
Apples (1kg)
$5.14 Rp 92.4K
$3.72 Rp 66.9K
38.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$1.66 Rp 29.8K
-33.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 19.5K
$2.48 Rp 44.6K
-56.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 Rp 26.5K
$2.02 Rp 36.3K
-27.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.8K
$1.94 Rp 35.0K
-31.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
$2.53 Rp 45.5K
-30.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 Rp 13.6K
$1.04 Rp 18.7K
-27.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,097
$0.51 Rp 9,237
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 Rp 37.4K
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
-12.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.04 Rp 378.7K
$23.90 Rp 430.2K
-11.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 Rp 28.8K
$2.48 Rp 44.7K
-35.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
$3.15 Rp 56.7K
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,403
$0.30 Rp 5,310
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.28 Rp 185.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 8,935
$0.60 Rp 10.8K
-16.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,183
$0.52 Rp 9,437
-34.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 Rp 48.0K
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
-1.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
-26.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K Rp 482.4M
$29.9K Rp 538.1M
-10.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 559.1M
$39.6K Rp 712.6M
-21.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.2 Rp 1.2M
$89.3 Rp 1.6M
-24.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.75 Rp 85.5K
$7.09 Rp 127.7K
-33.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.78 Rp 338.0K
$20.79 Rp 374.2K
-9.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.72 Rp 354.9K
$63.6 Rp 1.1M
-69.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.94 Rp 160.9K
$20.80 Rp 374.5K
-57.02%
Cinema Ticket
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$5.01 Rp 90.1K
-45.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$89.9 Rp 1.6M
$560 Rp 10.1M
-83.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,095 Rp 145.7M
$6,562 Rp 118.1M
23.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.77 Rp 859.9K
$49.97 Rp 899.5K
-4.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.33 Rp 582.0K
$38.06 Rp 685.1K
-15.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 Rp 1.4M
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
-13.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1 Rp 1.3M
$87.5 Rp 1.6M
-15.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$195 Rp 3.5M
$1,518 Rp 27.3M
-87.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 Rp 2.7M
$933 Rp 16.8M
-84.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.8M
$4,875 Rp 87.7M
-89.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 Rp 6.1M
$2,323 Rp 41.8M
-85.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,107 Rp 19.9M
$3,738 Rp 67.3M
-70.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$730 Rp 13.1M
$3,108 Rp 55.9M
-76.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$336 Rp 6.0M
-
-
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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
$213
Uluwatu, Bali
$306 43.8% $93
Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
$148
Uluwatu, Bali
$933 532% $785
Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
$104
Uluwatu, Bali
$119 14.2% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
$91
Uluwatu, Bali
$117 29.1% $26
Eating Out
Samarinda
$63
Uluwatu, Bali
$129 105% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
$25
Uluwatu, Bali
$74 192% $48
Getting Around
Samarinda
$3.4 *
Uluwatu, Bali
$15 331% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Samarinda versus $1,518 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 $42.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $306 – making Samarinda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Samarinda
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🕒 Local time
09:46 9:46 AM
09:46 9:46 AM
Same time as Samarinda
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
726,223
5,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Samarinda Uluwatu, Bali 950 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Samarinda
  • 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
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: $647 in Samarinda, $1,692 in Uluwatu, Bali – roughly 162% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Samarinda compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $970 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 $42.00 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 44% 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 $647, 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 $647 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.

Samarinda vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?