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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $672 in Balikpapan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,070 in Balikpapan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,468 in Balikpapan.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 151% more expensive than in Balikpapan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above, Balikpapan is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 Rp 72.8K

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

197.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.57 Rp 771.5K

$11.14 Rp 197.3K

291.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 Rp 117.6K

$3.17 Rp 56.1K

109.46%

Cappuccino

$3.38 Rp 59.8K

$1.45 Rp 25.8K

133.10%

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

$2.19 Rp 38.8K

$0.38 Rp 6,782

476.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.37 Rp 6,529

172.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 Rp 63.1K

$2.40 Rp 42.5K

48.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.43 Rp 96.1K

$3.53 Rp 62.5K

53.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 Rp 29.4K

$1.19 Rp 21.0K

39.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.6K

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

121.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 21.5K

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

3.42%

Eggs

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

$2.59 Rp 45.9K

-11.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.21 Rp 322.4K

$7.34 Rp 130.0K

148.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.21 Rp 74.5K

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

41.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 Rp 231.4K

$6.78 Rp 120.1K

92.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 Rp 69.3K

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

71.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$1.27 Rp 22.4K

28.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 Rp 43.8K

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

45.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

64.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

$1.31 Rp 23.3K

45.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 Rp 45.8K

$2.01 Rp 35.6K

28.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

45.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 9,996

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.41 Rp 42.6K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

26.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.21 Rp 428.6K

$20.60 Rp 364.7K

17.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 Rp 44.2K

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

30.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 Rp 55.0K

$3.00 Rp 53.0K

3.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 Rp 5,577

$0.55 Rp 9,817

-43.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.28 Rp 181.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

-50.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 Rp 10.2K

$0.34 Rp 5,944

70.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 Rp 47.5K

$2.89 Rp 51.2K

-6.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

32.89%

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

$30.3K Rp 536.2M

$23.5K Rp 416.3M

28.80%

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

$39.3K Rp 696.4M

$31.2K Rp 552.0M

26.15%

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

$89.9 Rp 1.6M

$69.9 Rp 1.2M

28.71%

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

$7.40 Rp 131.0K

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

63.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 Rp 363.4K

$29.58 Rp 523.8K

-30.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 Rp 1.2M

$24.45 Rp 433.0K

169.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.34 Rp 377.8K

$8.64 Rp 153.1K

146.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 Rp 92.3K

$2.85 Rp 50.5K

82.81%

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

$544 Rp 9.6M

$94.7 Rp 1.7M

474.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,707 Rp 118.8M

$6,923 Rp 122.6M

-3.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 Rp 904.7K

$38.44 Rp 680.6K

32.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.15 Rp 693.2K

$19.51 Rp 345.5K

100.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 Rp 1.6M

$141 Rp 2.5M

-36.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.8 Rp 1.6M

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 Rp 27.6M

$203 Rp 3.6M

664.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$924 Rp 16.4M

$156 Rp 2.8M

491.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,848 Rp 85.8M

$557 Rp 9.9M

769.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 Rp 40.9M

$367 Rp 6.5M

528.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,720 Rp 65.9M

$1,079 Rp 19.1M

244.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,051 Rp 54.0M

$709 Rp 12.6M

329.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 Rp 4.3M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.46

45.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Last update for Balikpapan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali and $203 in Balikpapan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $11.00 in Balikpapan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $203 per month, with Balikpapan 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

Uluwatu, Bali vs Balikpapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan differ by about 151% in total monthly costs ($1,685 vs $672 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,528 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,009 in Balikpapan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,556 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $203 in Balikpapan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $544 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $94.7 in Balikpapan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Balikpapan – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $672 in Balikpapan versus $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Balikpapan 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, Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan 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 Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.