🙂A single person spends $710 per month in Samarinda vs $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,071 per month in Samarinda vs $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,431 per month in Samarinda vs $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂Samarinda is about 60% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Samarinda sits 47% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 28.3K
$4.27Rp 76.3K
-63.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.08Rp 216.1K
$39.90Rp 713.9K
-69.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67Rp 101.5K
$6.16Rp 110.1K
-7.95%
Cappuccino
$1.67Rp 29.9K
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-49.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,837
$1.62Rp 29.0K
-69.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,803
$0.89Rp 15.8K
-57.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 43.6K
$3.53Rp 63.2K
-30.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44Rp 61.6K
$4.76Rp 85.1K
-27.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-35.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91Rp 16.2K
$2.63Rp 47.1K
-65.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$1.27Rp 22.7K
-39.37%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$2.57Rp 45.9K
-40.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97Rp 142.6K
$15.13Rp 270.6K
-47.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$4.37Rp 78.2K
-9.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.13Rp 199.0K
$12.43Rp 222.3K
-10.46%
Apples(1kg)
$5.53Rp 99.0K
$3.96Rp 70.9K
39.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.5K
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-22.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$2.90Rp 51.9K
-60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.9K
$2.35Rp 42.0K
-31.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$2.00Rp 35.8K
-28.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.9K
$2.30Rp 41.2K
-15.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.08Rp 19.3K
-12.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.6K
$0.81Rp 14.5K
-27.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29Rp 40.9K
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-30.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.79Rp 354.1K
$24.45Rp 437.4K
-19.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 35.9K
$2.89Rp 51.8K
-30.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 57.9K
$2.87Rp 51.3K
12.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,767
$0.36Rp 6,489
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.63Rp 172.3K
$10.28Rp 184.0K
-6.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96Rp 17.1K
$0.57Rp 10.1K
68.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,227
$0.57Rp 10.2K
-38.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97Rp 53.2K
$7.63Rp 136.4K
-61.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63Rp 11.3K
$1.06Rp 18.9K
-40.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 444.5M
$32.2KRp 575.4M
-22.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRp 488.2M
$40.3KRp 720.3M
-32.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9Rp 1.3M
$88.2Rp 1.6M
-19.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40Rp 78.7K
$4.47Rp 80.0K
-1.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.02Rp 411.8K
$26.05Rp 466.1K
-11.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.01Rp 411.6K
$115Rp 2.1M
-80.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 107.3K
$7.75Rp 138.7K
-22.58%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10Rp 55.4K
$4.70Rp 84.1K
-34.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.1Rp 1.7M
$339Rp 6.1M
-71.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,595Rp 135.9M
$7,595Rp 135.9M
-0.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.10Rp 735.3K
$60.8Rp 1.1M
-32.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66Rp 548.5K
$42.63Rp 762.7K
-28.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$97.9Rp 1.8M
-31.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-14.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$1,369Rp 24.5M
-81.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$920Rp 16.5M
-82.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597Rp 10.7M
$4,495Rp 80.4M
-86.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.9M
$2,803Rp 50.2M
-88.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$987Rp 17.7M
$3,751Rp 67.1M
-73.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$602Rp 10.8M
$3,040Rp 54.4M
-80.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$328Rp 5.9M
-
-
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 12, 2026
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Samarinda versus $1,369 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 $12.00 in Samarinda versus $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $312 – 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: $710 in Samarinda, $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali – roughly 148% apart. Uluwatu, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Samarinda compared to Uluwatu, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,065 per month in Samarinda and $2,638 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 $12.00 in Samarinda and $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Samarinda or Uluwatu, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $710 in Samarinda and $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $710, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,759. 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 $710 in Samarinda to $1,759 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.