Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan

For one person, living is cheaper in Balikpapan: $662 a month against $1,628 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Balikpapan, Indonesia
Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,628
/mo nomad
Balikpapan
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$662
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Uluwatu, Bali and in Balikpapan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Uluwatu, Bali and in Balikpapan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $662 in Balikpapan.

  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,628
  • Balikpapan $662

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,763 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,049 in Balikpapan.

  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,763
  • Balikpapan $1,049

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,897 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,436 in Balikpapan.

  • Uluwatu, Bali $3,897
  • Balikpapan $1,436

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 146% more expensive than in Balikpapan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 20% above, Balikpapan is 51% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.10 Rp 74.4K
$1.35 Rp 24.6K
203.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.36 Rp 751.1K
$11.13 Rp 202.2K
271.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 Rp 124.6K
$3.06 Rp 55.7K
124.18%
Cappuccino
$3.11 Rp 56.4K
$1.36 Rp 24.6K
128.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 Rp 35.4K
$0.37 Rp 6,802
427.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
$0.38 Rp 6,964
107.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 Rp 56.7K
$2.16 Rp 39.3K
44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18 Rp 94.1K
$3.53 Rp 64.1K
46.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 29.3K
$1.17 Rp 21.3K
37.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 Rp 43.3K
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
116.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.7K
$1.14 Rp 20.7K
5.26%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 39.5K
$2.40 Rp 43.6K
-9.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.54 Rp 300.3K
$7.12 Rp 129.4K
132.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 Rp 76.9K
$2.89 Rp 52.5K
46.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.70 Rp 212.5K
$7.33 Rp 133.1K
59.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.79 Rp 68.9K
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
73.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 Rp 30.4K
$1.29 Rp 23.5K
29.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.44 Rp 44.3K
$1.51 Rp 27.5K
61.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 36.6K
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
68.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
$1.25 Rp 22.8K
50.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 Rp 44.7K
$1.96 Rp 35.7K
25.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 19.4K
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
25.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,192
$0.72 Rp 13.0K
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 Rp 43.0K
$1.77 Rp 32.1K
33.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.39 Rp 406.7K
$20.79 Rp 377.6K
7.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 Rp 43.1K
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
31.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 Rp 56.8K
$2.87 Rp 52.0K
9.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,181
$0.23 Rp 4,144
26.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.26 Rp 204.5K
$11.45 Rp 208.0K
-1.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.60 Rp 10.9K
$1.12 Rp 20.3K
-46.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 Rp 9,925
$0.32 Rp 5,752
71.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 Rp 46.9K
$2.77 Rp 50.4K
-6.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 Rp 19.3K
$0.73 Rp 13.3K
45.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K Rp 543.6M
$23.3K Rp 423.5M
28.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K Rp 736.7M
$32.3K Rp 586.5M
25.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.3 Rp 1.5M
$64.3 Rp 1.2M
32.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.75 Rp 122.5K
$4.14 Rp 75.2K
63.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.13 Rp 383.8K
$29.12 Rp 528.9K
-27.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 Rp 1.1M
$23.17 Rp 420.8K
159.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.83 Rp 378.3K
$8.16 Rp 148.2K
155.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 Rp 89.9K
$2.72 Rp 49.5K
81.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$547 Rp 9.9M
$92.5 Rp 1.7M
491.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K Rp 245.7M
$8,227 Rp 149.4M
64.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 Rp 917.8K
$36.81 Rp 668.5K
37.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.67 Rp 684.2K
$18.82 Rp 341.8K
100.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 Rp 1.6M
$136 Rp 2.5M
-35.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.2 Rp 1.6M
$69.1 Rp 1.3M
26.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,433 Rp 26.0M
$196 Rp 3.6M
630.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 Rp 16.2M
$145 Rp 2.6M
514.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,718 Rp 85.7M
$551 Rp 10.0M
756.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,215 Rp 40.2M
$373 Rp 6.8M
493.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,226 Rp 58.6M
$1,164 Rp 21.1M
177.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,993 Rp 54.4M
$805 Rp 14.6M
271.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Balikpapan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$233 Rp 4.2M
-
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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Balikpapan: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
$891
Balikpapan
$145 83.7% $746
Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
$292
Balikpapan
$201 31% $91
Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
$128
Balikpapan
$57 55.2% $70
Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
$118
Balikpapan
$117 1% $1.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
$113
Balikpapan
$98 13.8% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
$70
Balikpapan
$29 59.2% $41
Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
$16
Balikpapan
$15 4.2% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,433 in Uluwatu, Bali and $196 in Balikpapan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $41 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $11 in Balikpapan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $201 per month, with Balikpapan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Balikpapan
🕒 Local time
21:23 9:23 PM
21:23 9:23 PM
Same time as Uluwatu, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,000
701,066
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,333 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Uluwatu, Bali Balikpapan 870 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Uluwatu, Bali
  • Balikpapan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Balikpapan?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,628 in Uluwatu, Bali and $662 in Balikpapan, so Balikpapan is about 59% cheaper – 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 $2,442 in Uluwatu, Bali and $993 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 in Balikpapan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,433 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $196 in Balikpapan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Uluwatu, Bali and Balikpapan?
Childcare runs $547 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $92 in Balikpapan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Balikpapan – a meal for two runs $11 versus $41 in Uluwatu, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $662 in Balikpapan versus $1,628 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,200 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 both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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