Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Denpasar vs Makassar

Denpasar vs Makassar

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 39% cheaper High / N/A

Denpasar

Nurinsani Alfisyah/Unsplash

Makassar

Arief Hidayat/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$1,385

Denpasar

$839

Makassar

Internet

Mbps

Safety

High

Denpasar

N/A

Makassar

Air Quality

4/5

Denpasar

5/5

Makassar

Healthcare

Moderate

Denpasar

N/A

Makassar

Population

788.6k

Denpasar

1.3m

Makassar

Denpasar and Makassar are both in Indonesia, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

The monthly savings are substantial — Makassar at $839/mo costs 39% less than Denpasar at $1385/mo, adding up to $6552 over a year.

For families, Denpasar costs $1166.129571147421/mo compared to Makassar's $1800.101453918562/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Internet speeds are nearly identical — Denpasar at 32 Mbps and Makassar at 32 Mbps. Both handle video calls and uploads well.

Quality of Life

Both Denpasar and Makassar share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Denpasar and Makassar.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Denpasar is July (around 31 degrees, 1mm rain, score 388), while Makassar peaks in August (35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 374). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

DenpasarMakassar

Nomad$1,385/mo$839/mo

Expat$990/mo$683/mo

Local$333/mo$514/mo

Family$1,166/mo$1,800/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

DenpasarMakassar

City Speed

32 Mbps

Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

DenpasarMakassar

Air Quality Score4/55/5

PollutionHighN/A

ClimateModerateN/A

Humidity8185

Quality of Life

DenpasarMakassar

SafetyHighN/A

HealthcareModerateN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Denpasar

Makassar

Jan

37°

3mm357

36°

11mm87

Feb

38°

8mm285

37°

4mm210

Mar

38°

6mm347

37°

6mm179

Apr

36°

6mm231

38°

3mm282

May

34°

2mm255

38°

1mm346

Jun

33°

2mm285

36°

1mm348

Jul

31°

1mm388

35°

0mm372

Aug

32°

1mm378

35°

0mm374

Sep

34°

1mm367

37°

0mm354

Oct

36°

1mm357

37°

1mm330

Nov

38°

4mm352

37°

6mm271

Dec

35°

11mm193

33°

16mm41

Who Should Choose Denpasar?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $1385
High safety rating for peace of mind
Clean air with a 4/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1166.129571147421/mo for families
Peak season in July — 31 degrees, score 388

Who Should Choose Makassar?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $839
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1800.101453918562/mo for families
Peak season in August — 35 degrees, score 374

Overall Verdict

The data favors Denpasar as the more well-rounded choice. At $1385/mo versus Makassar's $839/mo, that is a 39% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Denpasar Makassar

ItemDenpasarMakassarDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$2.9$1.3

55%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$25.93$9.72

63%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.24$3.24

Cappuccino (regular)$2.04$1.78

13%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.27$2.07

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.59$2.92

11%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.64$0.5

22%

Water (0.33L)$0.28$0.26

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.23$1.24

White bread (500g)$1.34$1

25%

White rice (1kg)$0.8$0.82

Eggs (12)$1.29$1.47

12%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.17$3.65

13%

Beef round (1kg)$8.95$7.45

17%

Local cheese (1kg)$11.67$5.94

49%

Apples (1kg)$2.84$2.51

12%

Bananas (1kg)$1.35$0.86

36%

Oranges (1kg)$1.47$2.28

36%

Tomatoes (1kg)$0.71$0.8

11%

Potatoes (1kg)$1.05$1.02

Onions (1kg)$2.27$1.73

24%

Lettuce (1 head)$0.65$1.04

38%

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.44$0.45

Wine, mid-range bottle$19.45$12.96

33%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.77$2.27

22%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.11$3.52

40%

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.27$2.07

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.21$0.32

34%

Monthly transport pass$12.96$9.72

25%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.65$0.58

11%

Taxi per 1km$0.47$0.45

Taxi 1hr waiting$3.57$3.57

Gasoline (1L)$0.77$0.81

Volkswagen Golf (new)$29,168.58$24,955.34

14%

Toyota Corolla (new)$28,747.25$31,761.34

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$49.15$51.2

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$30.44$41.59

27%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.09$0.18

50%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$25.93$25.12

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$5.67$9.18

38%

Cinema, 1 ticket$4.86$2.92

40%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$137.74$53.8

61%

International primary school/yr$8,815.39$4,861.43

45%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$32.95$45.36

27%

Summer dress (chain store)$18.64$22.69

18%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$73.89$75.35

Men's leather business shoes$66.44$47.97

28%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$206.61$170.15

18%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$175.55$77.78

56%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$496.95$421.32

15%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$350.02$162.05

54%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$1,037.11$1,296.38

20%

Price per m², outside centre$550.96$421.32

24%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$234.97$231.19

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$10.75$10.67

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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