Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Uluwatu, Bali and Makassar

For one person, living is cheaper in Makassar: $632 a month against $1,689 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,689
/mo nomad
Makassar
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$632
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Makassar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,689 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $632 in Makassar.

  • Uluwatu, Bali $1,689
  • Makassar $632

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,842 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $977 in Makassar.

  • Uluwatu, Bali $2,842
  • Makassar $977

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,995 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,322 in Makassar.

  • Uluwatu, Bali $3,995
  • Makassar $1,322

Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 167% more expensive than in Makassar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 25% above, Makassar is 53% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97 Rp 71.4K
$1.62 Rp 29.1K
145.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.08 Rp 775.5K
$8.67 Rp 156.1K
396.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.78 Rp 122.0K
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
109.91%
Cappuccino
$3.27 Rp 58.9K
$1.92 Rp 34.6K
70.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 Rp 37.1K
$0.47 Rp 8,457
338.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 Rp 16.5K
$0.33 Rp 6,013
178.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.29 Rp 59.3K
$2.45 Rp 44.1K
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24 Rp 94.4K
$3.13 Rp 56.4K
67.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 Rp 30.0K
$1.53 Rp 27.6K
8.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 Rp 43.5K
$0.97 Rp 17.5K
148.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.9K
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
122.81%
Eggs
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
43.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.01 Rp 324.1K
$6.42 Rp 115.5K
180.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 73.8K
$3.42 Rp 61.6K
19.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.51 Rp 225.2K
$5.23 Rp 94.2K
139.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 Rp 67.8K
$2.45 Rp 44.1K
53.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 Rp 30.1K
$1.31 Rp 23.6K
27.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 42.6K
$1.96 Rp 35.3K
20.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 Rp 37.4K
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
65.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 35.2K
$1.28 Rp 23.1K
53.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 Rp 44.3K
$1.48 Rp 26.6K
66.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 19.3K
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
44.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,449
$0.39 Rp 6,988
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$2.60 Rp 46.9K
-11.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.14 Rp 416.5K
$22.14 Rp 398.6K
4.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 Rp 42.9K
$1.82 Rp 32.7K
30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 56.0K
$2.87 Rp 51.7K
8.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 Rp 5,626
$0.27 Rp 4,851
14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.43 Rp 187.8K
$4.18 Rp 75.2K
149.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
$0.50 Rp 8,925
12.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 Rp 9,781
$0.37 Rp 6,710
45.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.59 Rp 46.5K
$2.67 Rp 48.0K
-3.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 Rp 19.3K
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
33.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K Rp 545.2M
$23.8K Rp 428.5M
27.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K Rp 740.2M
$31.9K Rp 574.3M
28.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 Rp 1.6M
$90.3 Rp 1.6M
0.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.97 Rp 125.5K
$2.61 Rp 46.9K
167.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.28 Rp 365.1K
$25.29 Rp 455.3K
-19.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 Rp 1.2M
$21.58 Rp 388.5K
201.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.04 Rp 378.8K
$8.40 Rp 151.1K
150.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 Rp 89.1K
$3.36 Rp 60.5K
47.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 Rp 10.1M
$94.2 Rp 1.7M
493.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,408 Rp 115.3M
$3,803 Rp 68.5M
68.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.86 Rp 879.5K
$26.97 Rp 485.5K
81.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.79 Rp 680.3K
$23.43 Rp 421.7K
61.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.0 Rp 1.6M
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
17.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 Rp 1.6M
$39.92 Rp 718.5K
115.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,521 Rp 27.4M
$224 Rp 4.0M
577.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$933 Rp 16.8M
$143 Rp 2.6M
553.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,716 Rp 84.9M
$528 Rp 9.5M
793.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,268 Rp 40.8M
$364 Rp 6.6M
523.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,805 Rp 68.5M
$1,151 Rp 20.7M
230.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,012 Rp 54.2M
$794 Rp 14.3M
279.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$214 Rp 3.8M
-
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: October 19, 2026

Last update for Makassar: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
$933
Makassar
$143 84.7% $790
Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
$301
Makassar
$193 35.8% $108
Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
$130
Makassar
$67 48.2% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
$118
Makassar
$118 0.3% $0.3
Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
$117
Makassar
$74 36.6% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
$75
Makassar
$28 62.3% $47
Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
$15
Makassar
$7.6 49.1% $7.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,521 in Uluwatu, Bali and $224 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $9.00 in Makassar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $301 vs $193 per month, with Makassar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Uluwatu, Bali
🇮🇩 Makassar
🕒 Local time
21:31 9:31 PM
21:31 9:31 PM
Same time as Uluwatu, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,000
1,427,619
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Uluwatu, Bali Makassar 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Uluwatu, Bali
  • Makassar

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 Makassar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Uluwatu, Bali or Makassar?
Makassar wins on cost – living expenses run 167% 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 $2,534 in Uluwatu, Bali and $948 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: $1,521 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $224 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 150% 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 $559 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $94.2 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 $632 in Makassar versus $1,689 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 $632 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 167% 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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