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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $665 in Makassar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,003 in Makassar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,341 in Makassar.

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 165% more expensive than in Makassar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above, Makassar is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27 Rp 76.3K
$3.03 Rp 54.2K
40.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.90 Rp 713.9K
$9.36 Rp 167.5K
326.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 Rp 110.1K
$3.00 Rp 53.7K
105.33%
Cappuccino
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
$1.80 Rp 32.3K
82.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 Rp 29.0K
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
149.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 15.8K
$0.40 Rp 7,117
122.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.53 Rp 63.2K
$3.61 Rp 64.6K
-2.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 Rp 85.1K
$3.63 Rp 64.9K
31.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
14.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 Rp 47.1K
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
143.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
98.44%
Eggs
$2.57 Rp 45.9K
$1.43 Rp 25.6K
79.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.13 Rp 270.6K
$5.37 Rp 96.1K
181.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.37 Rp 78.2K
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
54.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.43 Rp 222.3K
$4.26 Rp 76.2K
191.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$2.23 Rp 40.0K
77.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
$1.59 Rp 28.4K
2.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 Rp 51.9K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
58.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.0K
$1.57 Rp 28.0K
49.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
$1.25 Rp 22.4K
60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
47.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 Rp 19.3K
$0.45 Rp 7,975
140.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
$0.47 Rp 8,444
72.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
30.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.45 Rp 437.4K
$22.33 Rp 399.5K
9.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
$2.02 Rp 36.1K
43.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.3K
$2.43 Rp 43.4K
18.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 Rp 6,489
$0.30 Rp 5,280
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 Rp 184.0K
$4.56 Rp 81.7K
125.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
1.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.29 Rp 5,112
96.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.63 Rp 136.4K
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
143.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 Rp 18.9K
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
35.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K Rp 575.4M
$16.7K Rp 298.9M
92.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K Rp 720.3M
$18.4K Rp 330.0M
118.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.2 Rp 1.6M
$66.8 Rp 1.2M
32.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47 Rp 80.0K
$3.59 Rp 64.2K
24.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.05 Rp 466.1K
$32.49 Rp 581.2K
-19.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 Rp 2.1M
$23.23 Rp 415.6K
396.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75 Rp 138.7K
$6.09 Rp 109.0K
27.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 Rp 84.1K
$3.15 Rp 56.4K
49.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 Rp 6.1M
$106 Rp 1.9M
219.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,595 Rp 135.9M
$4,103 Rp 73.4M
85.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 Rp 1.1M
$29.14 Rp 521.3K
108.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.63 Rp 762.7K
$25.17 Rp 450.3K
69.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 Rp 1.8M
$83.2 Rp 1.5M
17.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$43.19 Rp 772.7K
99.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 Rp 24.5M
$214 Rp 3.8M
538.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 Rp 16.5M
$168 Rp 3.0M
448.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,495 Rp 80.4M
$425 Rp 7.6M
956.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,803 Rp 50.2M
$338 Rp 6.1M
728.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,751 Rp 67.1M
$1,355 Rp 24.2M
176.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,040 Rp 54.4M
$545 Rp 9.8M
457.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$209 Rp 3.7M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6
121.33%

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

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026

Last update for Makassar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali and $214 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Makassar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $188 per month, with Makassar 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 Makassar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Uluwatu, Bali or Makassar?
Makassar wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Uluwatu, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makassar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Uluwatu, Bali and in Makassar?
You'd need roughly $2,638 in Uluwatu, Bali and $997 in Makassar 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Makassar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,369 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $214 in Makassar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Uluwatu, Bali compared to Makassar?
A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 125% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Uluwatu, Bali and in Makassar?
Childcare runs $339 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $106 in Makassar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Uluwatu, Bali or in Makassar?
At $665 in Makassar versus $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makassar but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Makassar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Uluwatu, Bali or Makassar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makassar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $665 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makassar hard to pass up.
How safe is Uluwatu, Bali compared to Makassar?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Makassar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makassar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% 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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