For one person, living is cheaper in Manado: $557 a month against $1,229 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bali and in Manado actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,229 per month in Bali vs $557 in Manado, rent included.
Bali $1,229
Manado $557
A couple spends around $2,053 per month in Bali vs $881 in Manado, rent included.
Bali $2,053
Manado $881
A family of three spends $2,877 per month in Bali vs $1,206 in Manado, rent included.
Bali $2,877
Manado $1,206
😐
Bali costs about 121% more than Manado, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Bali and Manado are more affordable than the global median – Bali9% lower, Manado59% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75Rp 49.5K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
90.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.09Rp 523.7K
$16.91Rp 304.4K
72.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.66Rp 83.9K
$2.78Rp 50.0K
67.63%
Cappuccino
$2.31Rp 41.5K
$1.75Rp 31.6K
32.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$0.61Rp 11.0K
132.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$0.25Rp 4,526
156.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23Rp 40.2K
$3.42Rp 61.6K
-34.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61Rp 64.9K
$2.75Rp 49.6K
31.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43Rp 25.8K
$1.38Rp 24.8K
3.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11Rp 38.0K
$1.10Rp 19.8K
91.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.6K
$0.77Rp 13.9K
49.35%
Eggs
$1.96Rp 35.3K
$1.85Rp 33.2K
5.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.38Rp 294.8K
$16.47Rp 296.4K
-0.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60Rp 64.7K
$2.73Rp 49.1K
31.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.70Rp 210.6K
$6.25Rp 112.5K
87.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48Rp 62.7K
$2.29Rp 41.2K
51.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.4K
$1.51Rp 27.1K
-3.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.8K
$1.30Rp 23.4K
70.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 34.3K
$1.02Rp 18.3K
86.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72Rp 30.9K
$0.83Rp 14.9K
107.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.4K
$2.78Rp 50.1K
-21.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00Rp 17.9K
$0.80Rp 14.3K
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,256
$0.45Rp 8,183
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08Rp 37.4K
$2.38Rp 42.8K
-12.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.20Rp 381.6K
$20.83Rp 374.9K
1.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18Rp 39.2K
$1.83Rp 33.0K
19.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 51.9K
$3.02Rp 54.4K
-4.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23Rp 4,137
$0.30Rp 5,363
-23.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.27Rp 148.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,030
$0.52Rp 9,385
-13.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,471
$0.34Rp 6,183
38.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42Rp 97.6K
$2.68Rp 48.2K
102.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$0.65Rp 11.7K
27.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0KRp 431.7M
$23.5KRp 422.4M
2.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KRp 573.5M
$31.5KRp 566.9M
1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.4Rp 1.4M
$52.9Rp 951.8K
50.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46Rp 116.3K
$4.26Rp 76.6K
51.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69Rp 336.4K
$14.10Rp 253.8K
32.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.96Rp 827.2K
$13.16Rp 236.9K
249.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.87Rp 267.7K
$8.53Rp 153.5K
74.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67Rp 66.1K
$2.56Rp 46.1K
43.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$443Rp 8.0M
$126Rp 2.3M
252.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,164Rp 93.0M
$4,771Rp 85.9M
8.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.58Rp 784.5K
$55.1Rp 991.0K
-20.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.98Rp 593.7K
$20.35Rp 366.3K
62.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0Rp 1.3M
$69.5Rp 1.3M
7.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0Rp 1.3M
$64.5Rp 1.2M
16.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$975Rp 17.5M
$253Rp 4.5M
285.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$593Rp 10.7M
$81.6Rp 1.5M
627.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065Rp 55.2M
$302Rp 5.4M
915.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,463Rp 26.3M
$169Rp 3.0M
767.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391Rp 43.0M
$1,185Rp 21.3M
101.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,945Rp 35.0M
$790Rp 14.2M
146.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216Rp 3.9M
$215Rp 3.9M
0.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
10
37.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bali: October 20, 2026
Last update for Manado: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$593 48.3%
Manado
$82 14.7% ↓ 86.2%$512
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$273 22.3%
Manado
$221 39.7% ↓ 19%$52
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105 8.5%
Manado
$71 12.8% ↓ 31.9%$33
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$102 8.3%
Manado
$94 16.9% ↓ 7.6%$7.7
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$90 7.3%
Manado
$67 12% ↓ 25.8%$23
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$53 4.3%
Manado
$18 3.3% ↓ 65.7%$35
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$12 1%
Manado
$3.4 * 0.6% ↓ 71.4%$8.6
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bali
$1.5K 50.9%
Manado
$169 14% ↓ 88.5%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bali
$613 21.3%
Manado
$490 40.6% ↓ 20.1%$123
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$111 3.9%
Manado
$75 6.3% ↓ 32%$36
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$227 7.9%
Manado
$209 17.4% ↓ 7.6%$17
🍽Eating Out
Bali
$318 11.1%
Manado
$210 17.4% ↓ 34%$108
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$121 4.2%
Manado
$45 3.7% ↓ 62.9%$76
🚌Getting Around
Bali
$24 0.9%
Manado
$7.5 * 0.6% ↓ 69.5%$17
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $975 in Bali versus $253 in Manado. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 0% higher in Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Bali versus $17.00 in Manado. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $221 – making Manado the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bali vs Manado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Manado?
Bali costs about 121% more than Manado, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali and in Manado?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,843 per month in Bali and $836 in Manado. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Manado?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Manado, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Manado?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,229 in Bali and $557 in Manado. That's a gap of about 121%.
How do childcare costs compare in Bali and in Manado?
Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Bali and $126 in Manado. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bali or in Manado?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manado, where all-in costs run around $557, than in Bali at $1,229. In Manado it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bali or Manado?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manado costs $557 versus $1,229 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Manado?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bali or to Manado?
If budget matters most, go with Manado. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.