Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Pekanbaru Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Pekanbaru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,290 per month in Bali vs $681 in Pekanbaru, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,302 per month in Bali vs $970 in Pekanbaru, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,314 per month in Bali vs $1,258 in Pekanbaru, rent included.

Bali costs about 89% more than Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bali and Pekanbaru are more affordable than the global median – Bali 3% lower, Pekanbaru 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
83.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.11 Rp 486.3K
$8.68 Rp 155.6K
212.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.25 Rp 76.2K
$2.49 Rp 44.7K
70.68%
Cappuccino
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.42 Rp 25.5K
57.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$0.47 Rp 8,369
144.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 Rp 10.5K
$0.26 Rp 4,666
123.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 Rp 43.4K
$2.14 Rp 38.4K
13.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 Rp 59.5K
$3.43 Rp 61.5K
-3.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 Rp 29.9K
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
23.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
103.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 19.6K
$1.02 Rp 18.4K
6.86%
Eggs
$2.25 Rp 40.5K
$1.78 Rp 31.9K
26.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.93 Rp 249.9K
$16.88 Rp 302.8K
-17.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 73.6K
$2.61 Rp 46.9K
57.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.34 Rp 203.4K
$10.40 Rp 186.6K
9.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 65.7K
$2.96 Rp 53.0K
23.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.6K
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
-7.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 Rp 47.7K
$2.01 Rp 36.1K
32.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.7K
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
148.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 32.6K
$1.00 Rp 17.9K
82.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 Rp 37.3K
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
29.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
-34.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.3K
$0.41 Rp 7,385
68.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 Rp 55.7K
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
34.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.34 Rp 400.8K
$19.82 Rp 355.6K
12.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-4.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 Rp 47.5K
$3.87 Rp 69.5K
-31.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,795
$0.30 Rp 5,301
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.19 Rp 146.8K
$9.33 Rp 167.4K
-12.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,070
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
-49.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,228
$0.40 Rp 7,206
15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.99 Rp 107.5K
$2.18 Rp 39.1K
174.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.6K
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
6.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.7M
$23.2K Rp 415.6M
12.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K Rp 584.7M
$25.5K Rp 456.6M
28.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$70.3 Rp 1.3M
12.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
$6.58 Rp 118.0K
-38.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.04 Rp 431.3K
$27.97 Rp 501.7K
-14.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.6 Rp 1.4M
$23.15 Rp 415.3K
248.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.47 Rp 98.1K
$12.41 Rp 222.6K
-55.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$3.21 Rp 57.5K
2.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 Rp 4.9M
$174 Rp 3.1M
56.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,104 Rp 109.5M
$3,096 Rp 55.5M
97.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 Rp 942.1K
$34.18 Rp 613.1K
53.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11 Rp 665.7K
$36.35 Rp 652.1K
2.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 Rp 1.5M
$65.7 Rp 1.2M
26.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8 Rp 1.3M
$75.9 Rp 1.4M
-4.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 Rp 15.4M
$257 Rp 4.6M
235.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$582 Rp 10.4M
$122 Rp 2.2M
377.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,932 Rp 52.6M
$930 Rp 16.7M
215.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,801 Rp 32.3M
$151 Rp 2.7M
1094.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,406 Rp 43.2M
$1,135 Rp 20.4M
112.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,957 Rp 35.1M
$699 Rp 12.5M
180.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$221 Rp 4.0M
$181 Rp 3.2M
22.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Pekanbaru: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $860 in Bali versus $257 in Pekanbaru. 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 22% 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 $27.00 in Bali versus $9.00 in Pekanbaru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $247 – making Pekanbaru the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Pekanbaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Pekanbaru?
Bali costs about 89% more than Pekanbaru, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 Pekanbaru?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,935 per month in Bali and $1,021 in Pekanbaru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Pekanbaru?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pekanbaru, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Pekanbaru?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bali and $9.00 in Pekanbaru. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Pekanbaru?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,290 in Bali and $681 in Pekanbaru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bali or in Pekanbaru?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pekanbaru, where all-in costs run around $681, than in Bali at $1,290. In Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pekanbaru costs $681 versus $1,290 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 Pekanbaru?
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 Pekanbaru?
If budget matters most, go with Pekanbaru. 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.

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