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: $1,732 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $778 in Balikpapan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,186 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,200 in Balikpapan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,640 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,622 in Balikpapan.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 122% more expensive than Balikpapan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 30% above, Balikpapan is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.25 Rp 75.4K
$1.57 Rp 27.8K
170.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.68 Rp 685.2K
$15.13 Rp 268.0K
155.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.18 Rp 109.5K
$3.35 Rp 59.3K
84.48%
Cappuccino
$3.30 Rp 58.5K
$1.73 Rp 30.6K
90.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 Rp 28.5K
$0.40 Rp 7,116
302.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 15.8K
$0.38 Rp 6,803
134.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.58 Rp 63.4K
$2.01 Rp 35.7K
78.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 Rp 81.1K
$3.15 Rp 55.8K
45.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 Rp 32.3K
$1.89 Rp 33.6K
-3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 Rp 45.6K
$1.23 Rp 21.8K
108.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.3K
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
-5.51%
Eggs
$2.51 Rp 44.4K
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
-5.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.08 Rp 267.1K
$7.92 Rp 140.3K
90.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 77.1K
$5.03 Rp 89.2K
-13.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.47 Rp 220.9K
$7.95 Rp 140.8K
56.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.95 Rp 70.0K
$3.73 Rp 66.0K
5.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 29.1K
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
5.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.1K
$2.12 Rp 37.6K
33.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 42.1K
$1.26 Rp 22.3K
88.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 35.8K
$1.81 Rp 32.1K
11.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.1K
$3.62 Rp 64.1K
-35.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$0.94 Rp 16.6K
18.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.3K
$0.79 Rp 14.0K
-5.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 Rp 59.2K
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
62.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.00 Rp 442.9K
$21.59 Rp 382.5K
15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 51.6K
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
29.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 Rp 51.8K
$4.33 Rp 76.8K
-32.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 Rp 5,988
$0.63 Rp 11.2K
-46.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.51 Rp 186.1K
$9.67 Rp 171.2K
8.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$1.25 Rp 22.1K
-54.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 Rp 9,485
$0.38 Rp 6,652
42.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 Rp 136.7K
$5.96 Rp 105.5K
29.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
$0.74 Rp 13.1K
44.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K Rp 588.0M
$24.5K Rp 434.5M
35.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K Rp 723.4M
$26.0K Rp 460.5M
57.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 Rp 1.6M
$92.1 Rp 1.6M
-4.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32 Rp 76.5K
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
44.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.72 Rp 473.3K
$31.61 Rp 560.0K
-15.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$114 Rp 2.0M
$21.70 Rp 384.3K
426.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77 Rp 137.6K
$6.06 Rp 107.3K
28.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.61 Rp 81.6K
$3.12 Rp 55.3K
47.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$341 Rp 6.0M
$61.9 Rp 1.1M
451.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,405 Rp 131.2M
$7,588 Rp 134.4M
-2.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 Rp 1.1M
$41.41 Rp 733.6K
44.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.40 Rp 751.2K
$20.63 Rp 365.5K
105.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 Rp 1.7M
$124 Rp 2.2M
-22.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 Rp 1.5M
$124 Rp 2.2M
-32.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,363 Rp 24.1M
$222 Rp 3.9M
513.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 Rp 16.3M
$155 Rp 2.8M
493.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,617 Rp 81.8M
$492 Rp 8.7M
839.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,782 Rp 49.3M
$309 Rp 5.5M
799.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,800 Rp 67.3M
$1,084 Rp 19.2M
250.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,092 Rp 54.8M
$628 Rp 11.1M
391.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$195 Rp 3.4M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
15
-11.47%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: June 15, 2026

Last update for Balikpapan: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,363 in Uluwatu, Bali and $222 in Balikpapan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $15.00 in Balikpapan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $311 vs $252 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan?
Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($1,732 vs $778 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Balikpapan?
You'd need roughly $2,598 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,168 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,363 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $222 in Balikpapan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan?
A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 9% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan?
Childcare runs $341 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $61.9 in Balikpapan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $778 in Balikpapan versus $1,732 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.
How does quality of life compare between Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan?
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.
Is Uluwatu, Bali or Balikpapan safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Uluwatu, Bali or Balikpapan?
Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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