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: $1,730 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $787 in Balikpapan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,196 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,194 in Balikpapan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,662 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,600 in Balikpapan.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 120% more expensive than in Balikpapan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 30% above, Balikpapan is 41% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.25 Rp 76.7K

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

168.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.65 Rp 697.8K

$15.12 Rp 273.0K

155.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 Rp 110.8K

$3.32 Rp 59.9K

84.64%

Cappuccino

$3.43 Rp 62.0K

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

91.62%

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

$1.63 Rp 29.4K

$0.41 Rp 7,361

297.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 Rp 16.3K

$0.38 Rp 6,938

136.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.66 Rp 66.0K

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

87.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 Rp 85.5K

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

53.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 Rp 33.1K

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 Rp 46.2K

$1.22 Rp 22.1K

109.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.7K

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

-8.40%

Eggs

$2.58 Rp 46.6K

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

-3.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.55 Rp 280.7K

$8.25 Rp 149.0K

88.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 Rp 79.0K

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

-12.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 226.6K

$7.72 Rp 139.3K

62.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 Rp 72.7K

$3.76 Rp 67.8K

6.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 Rp 30.3K

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

11.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 Rp 53.1K

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

38.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$1.26 Rp 22.8K

95.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 36.6K

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

13.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.5K

$3.74 Rp 67.6K

-38.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.3K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

15.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

3.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 Rp 61.6K

$2.01 Rp 36.4K

69.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.26 Rp 437.9K

$20.19 Rp 364.5K

20.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 54.1K

$2.18 Rp 39.3K

37.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 Rp 54.5K

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

-31.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 6,043

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

-43.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.49 Rp 189.4K

$10.12 Rp 182.7K

3.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 Rp 10.9K

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

-50.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 Rp 9,634

$0.37 Rp 6,708

43.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 Rp 141.9K

$6.07 Rp 109.5K

29.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

43.84%

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

$32.5K Rp 586.0M

$24.5K Rp 443.0M

32.29%

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

$40.6K Rp 733.6M

$25.5K Rp 460.1M

59.44%

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

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

-4.96%

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

$4.53 Rp 81.8K

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

45.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.81 Rp 484.0K

$32.41 Rp 585.2K

-17.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 Rp 2.0M

$21.16 Rp 382.0K

433.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.55 Rp 136.2K

$6.02 Rp 108.6K

25.42%

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 Rp 84.9K

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

56.15%

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

$339 Rp 6.1M

$62.0 Rp 1.1M

447.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,643 Rp 138.0M

$7,605 Rp 137.3M

0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 Rp 1.1M

$42.03 Rp 758.8K

42.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 Rp 753.6K

$21.04 Rp 379.8K

98.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 Rp 1.7M

$125 Rp 2.3M

-23.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 Rp 1.6M

$123 Rp 2.2M

-30.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 Rp 24.0M

$222 Rp 4.0M

497.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 Rp 16.3M

$156 Rp 2.8M

475.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,527 Rp 81.7M

$488 Rp 8.8M

827.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,827 Rp 51.0M

$302 Rp 5.4M

836.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,685 Rp 66.5M

$1,090 Rp 19.7M

238.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,998 Rp 54.1M

$597 Rp 10.8M

402.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 Rp 3.5M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-11.47%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 26, 2026

Last update for Balikpapan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,328 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 $314 vs $249 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 120% in total monthly costs ($1,730 vs $787 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,595 in Uluwatu, Bali and $1,181 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: $1,328 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $222 in Balikpapan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 4% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $339 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $62.0 in Balikpapan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $787 in Balikpapan versus $1,730 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 120% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.