😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,736 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $774 in Balikpapan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,152 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,193 in Balikpapan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,568 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,612 in Balikpapan.
😐Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 124% 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
$4.33Rp 75.0K
$1.52Rp 26.4K
184.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.42Rp 665.9K
$15.63Rp 270.8K
145.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11Rp 106.0K
$3.42Rp 59.3K
78.65%
Cappuccino
$3.45Rp 59.7K
$1.81Rp 31.4K
90.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 29.0K
$0.44Rp 7,629
279.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88Rp 15.3K
$0.39Rp 6,718
125.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54Rp 61.3K
$2.03Rp 35.2K
74.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59Rp 79.6K
$3.16Rp 54.8K
45.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80Rp 31.1K
$1.79Rp 31.0K
0.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.57Rp 44.5K
$1.23Rp 21.4K
108.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25Rp 21.7K
$1.28Rp 22.1K
-2.34%
Eggs
$2.53Rp 43.9K
$2.66Rp 46.1K
-4.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.00Rp 259.9K
$7.92Rp 137.3K
89.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.55Rp 78.9K
$4.80Rp 83.2K
-5.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.59Rp 218.3K
$7.99Rp 138.5K
57.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.94Rp 68.2K
$3.64Rp 63.1K
8.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.5K
$1.50Rp 26.0K
9.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 49.1K
$2.13Rp 36.9K
32.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46Rp 42.7K
$1.19Rp 20.7K
106.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10Rp 36.4K
$1.86Rp 32.2K
12.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.40Rp 41.6K
$3.77Rp 65.3K
-36.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.4K
$1.00Rp 17.3K
6.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Rp 14.0K
$0.81Rp 14.0K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41Rp 59.1K
$2.06Rp 35.8K
65.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.50Rp 424.7K
$22.43Rp 388.8K
9.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 52.4K
$2.18Rp 37.7K
38.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 50.3K
$4.38Rp 76.0K
-33.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37Rp 6,330
$0.62Rp 10.8K
-40.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.50Rp 182.0K
$9.73Rp 168.7K
7.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61Rp 10.5K
$1.24Rp 21.6K
-50.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53Rp 9,214
$0.34Rp 5,934
55.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.47Rp 129.5K
$6.05Rp 104.8K
23.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02Rp 17.6K
$0.78Rp 13.5K
30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KRp 563.8M
$24.6KRp 425.9M
32.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8KRp 706.9M
$25.9KRp 448.9M
57.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.8Rp 1.5M
$91.7Rp 1.6M
-3.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30Rp 74.6K
$3.06Rp 53.0K
40.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.71Rp 463.0K
$32.34Rp 560.5K
-17.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$114Rp 2.0M
$21.34Rp 369.8K
432.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.54Rp 130.7K
$6.26Rp 108.4K
20.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.82Rp 83.6K
$3.00Rp 51.9K
60.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336Rp 5.8M
$60.9Rp 1.1M
451.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,640Rp 132.4M
$7,667Rp 132.9M
-0.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6Rp 1.0M
$41.90Rp 726.2K
44.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.13Rp 730.2K
$20.46Rp 354.6K
105.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7Rp 1.7M
$125Rp 2.2M
-22.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2Rp 1.5M
$121Rp 2.1M
-30.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,345Rp 23.3M
$217Rp 3.8M
519.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$890Rp 15.4M
$156Rp 2.7M
469.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,556Rp 79.0M
$497Rp 8.6M
817.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,822Rp 48.9M
$303Rp 5.3M
830.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,025Rp 69.8M
$1,193Rp 20.7M
237.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,190Rp 55.3M
$876Rp 15.2M
264.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$204Rp 3.5M
-
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Balikpapan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,345 in Uluwatu, Bali and $217 in Balikpapan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $16.00 in Balikpapan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $251 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 124% in total monthly costs ($1,736 vs $774 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 $2,604 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,162 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: $1,345 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $217 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 8% 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 $336 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $60.9 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 $774 in Balikpapan versus $1,736 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 124% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Uluwatu, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared