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