😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $662 in Makassar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,005 in Makassar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,347 in Makassar.
😐Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 157% more expensive than Makassar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above, Makassar is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.14Rp 74.0K
$3.13Rp 55.9K
32.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93Rp 695.2K
$9.45Rp 168.8K
311.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99Rp 106.9K
$2.98Rp 53.2K
101.01%
Cappuccino
$3.39Rp 60.6K
$1.74Rp 31.1K
94.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61Rp 28.8K
$0.71Rp 12.7K
126.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$0.39Rp 6,976
125.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53Rp 63.1K
$3.67Rp 65.5K
-3.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59Rp 81.9K
$3.72Rp 66.4K
23.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83Rp 32.7K
$1.63Rp 29.1K
12.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66Rp 47.5K
$1.09Rp 19.4K
144.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.5K
$0.64Rp 11.5K
89.06%
Eggs
$2.53Rp 45.2K
$1.44Rp 25.8K
75.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.46Rp 276.0K
$5.49Rp 98.0K
181.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.56Rp 81.4K
$2.77Rp 49.5K
64.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.51Rp 223.4K
$4.36Rp 77.8K
186.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.90Rp 69.6K
$2.29Rp 40.9K
70.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.1K
$1.64Rp 29.3K
-0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91Rp 52.0K
$1.85Rp 33.0K
57.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.4K
$1.57Rp 28.0K
51.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.8K
$1.26Rp 22.5K
63.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.4K
$1.56Rp 27.9K
51.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$0.41Rp 7,381
163.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$0.47Rp 8,440
57.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.6K
$2.56Rp 45.8K
28.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.10Rp 448.3K
$22.53Rp 402.4K
11.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.6K
$2.10Rp 37.4K
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 51.8K
$2.48Rp 44.3K
16.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34Rp 6,057
$0.32Rp 5,720
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.40Rp 185.7K
$4.51Rp 80.5K
130.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$0.56Rp 10.0K
7.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54Rp 9,583
$0.29Rp 5,115
86.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56Rp 135.0K
$3.03Rp 54.1K
149.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 18.4K
$0.78Rp 13.9K
32.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KRp 574.5M
$16.8KRp 299.6M
91.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4KRp 703.6M
$18.7KRp 334.7M
110.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.6Rp 1.6M
$66.5Rp 1.2M
31.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 77.5K
$3.50Rp 62.5K
24.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.50Rp 473.2K
$32.44Rp 579.2K
-18.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$112Rp 2.0M
$23.28Rp 415.8K
381.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.62Rp 136.1K
$6.03Rp 107.6K
26.37%
Cinema Ticket
$4.77Rp 85.2K
$3.16Rp 56.4K
50.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347Rp 6.2M
$106Rp 1.9M
225.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,491Rp 133.8M
$4,097Rp 73.2M
82.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3Rp 1.1M
$30.05Rp 536.6K
100.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64Rp 761.4K
$25.17Rp 449.4K
69.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5Rp 1.7M
$81.8Rp 1.5M
19.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2Rp 1.5M
$43.93Rp 784.5K
94.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,335Rp 23.8M
$212Rp 3.8M
529.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921Rp 16.5M
$168Rp 3.0M
447.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,567Rp 81.6M
$438Rp 7.8M
942.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,786Rp 49.8M
$333Rp 5.9M
736.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,712Rp 66.3M
$1,167Rp 20.8M
218.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,139Rp 56.1M
$737Rp 13.2M
326.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$218Rp 3.9M
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Makassar: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali and $212 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Makassar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $190 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 157% 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 vs Makassar?
You'd need roughly $2,550 in Uluwatu, Bali and $993 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 vs Makassar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,335 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $212 in Makassar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Uluwatu, Bali vs Makassar?
A monthly transit pass in Makassar runs roughly 131% 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 Makassar?
Childcare runs $347 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 Makassar?
At $662 in Makassar versus $1,700 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 $662 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 157% 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