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