Kuta vs Makassar

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 29% cheaper N/A / N/A
Nomad Cost

$1,187

Kuta

$839

Makassar

Internet

32

Mbps

32

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Kuta

N/A

Makassar

Air Quality

4/5

Kuta

5/5

Makassar

Healthcare

N/A

Kuta

N/A

Makassar

Population

116.0k

Kuta

1.3m

Makassar

Kuta 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

Budget-conscious nomads take note: Makassar costs $839/mo, saving 29% compared to Kuta's $1187/mo — that's $4176 per year.

For families, Kuta costs $3215.134736601217/mo compared to Makassar's $1800.101453918562/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

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

Quality of Life

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

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Kuta and Makassar.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Kuta is August (around 30 degrees, 0mm rain, score 383), 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

KutaMakassar
Nomad$1,187/mo$839/mo
Expat$1,575/mo$683/mo
Local$919/mo$514/mo
Family$3,215/mo$1,800/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

KutaMakassar
City Speed
32 Mbps
32 Mbps
Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

KutaMakassar
Air Quality Score4/55/5
PollutionN/AN/A
ClimateN/AN/A
Humidity8185

Quality of Life

KutaMakassar
SafetyN/AN/A
HealthcareN/AN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Kuta
Makassar
Jan
35°
3mm315
36°
11mm87
Feb
36°
6mm243
37°
4mm210
Mar
36°
5mm304
37°
6mm179
Apr
35°
4mm220
38°
3mm282
May
33°
1mm325
38°
1mm346
Jun
31°
1mm340
36°
1mm348
Jul
29°
1mm345
35°
0mm372
Aug
30°
0mm383
35°
0mm374
Sep
33°
1mm340
37°
0mm354
Oct
34°
1mm345
37°
1mm330
Nov
36°
4mm309
37°
6mm271
Dec
34°
10mm151
33°
16mm41

Who Should Choose Kuta?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $1187
  • Clean air with a 4/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $3215.134736601217/mo for families
  • Smaller city feel with 116.0k residents
  • Peak season in August — 30 degrees, score 383

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

For the typical digital nomad, Makassar is the stronger pick. At $839/mo it beats Kuta's $1187/mo by 29%, and the 32 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Kuta Makassar
ItemKutaMakassarDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant—$1.3
—
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)—$9.72
—
McMeal or equivalent combo—$3.24
—
Cappuccino (regular)—$1.78
—
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)—$2.07
—
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)—$2.92
—
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)—$0.5
—
Water (0.33L)—$0.26
—
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)—$1.24
—
White bread (500g)—$1
—
White rice (1kg)—$0.82
—
Eggs (12)—$1.47
—
Chicken fillets (1kg)—$3.65
—
Beef round (1kg)—$7.45
—
Local cheese (1kg)—$5.94
—
Apples (1kg)—$2.51
—
Bananas (1kg)—$0.86
—
Oranges (1kg)—$2.28
—
Tomatoes (1kg)—$0.8
—
Potatoes (1kg)—$1.02
—
Onions (1kg)—$1.73
—
Lettuce (1 head)—$1.04
—
Water (1.5L bottle)—$0.45
—
Wine, mid-range bottle—$12.96
—
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)—$2.27
—
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)—$3.52
—
Cigarettes (pack of 20)—$2.07
—
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket—$0.32
—
Monthly transport pass—$9.72
—
Taxi start (normal tariff)—$0.58
—
Taxi per 1km—$0.45
—
Taxi 1hr waiting—$3.57
—
Gasoline (1L)—$0.81
—
Volkswagen Golf (new)—$24,955.34
—
Toyota Corolla (new)—$31,761.34
—
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo—$51.2
—
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo—$41.59
—
Mobile prepaid per minute—$0.18
—
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly—$25.12
—
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)—$9.18
—
Cinema, 1 ticket—$2.92
—
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo—$53.8
—
International primary school/yr—$4,861.43
—
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)—$45.36
—
Summer dress (chain store)—$22.69
—
Nike running shoes (mid-range)—$75.35
—
Men's leather business shoes—$47.97
—
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre—$170.15
—
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre—$77.78
—
3-bedroom apartment, city centre—$421.32
—
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre—$162.05
—
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre—$1,296.38
—
Price per m², outside centre—$421.32
—
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary—$231.19
—
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)—$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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