Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and PekanbaruCost 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 – Bali3% lower, Pekanbaru49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
83.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.11Rp 486.3K
$8.68Rp 155.6K
212.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.25Rp 76.2K
$2.49Rp 44.7K
70.68%
Cappuccino
$2.24Rp 40.2K
$1.42Rp 25.5K
57.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15Rp 20.6K
$0.47Rp 8,369
144.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58Rp 10.5K
$0.26Rp 4,666
123.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42Rp 43.4K
$2.14Rp 38.4K
13.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32Rp 59.5K
$3.43Rp 61.5K
-3.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66Rp 29.9K
$1.34Rp 24.1K
23.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$1.20Rp 21.5K
103.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.6K
$1.02Rp 18.4K
6.86%
Eggs
$2.25Rp 40.5K
$1.78Rp 31.9K
26.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.93Rp 249.9K
$16.88Rp 302.8K
-17.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 73.6K
$2.61Rp 46.9K
57.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.34Rp 203.4K
$10.40Rp 186.6K
9.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66Rp 65.7K
$2.96Rp 53.0K
23.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$1.67Rp 30.0K
-7.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66Rp 47.7K
$2.01Rp 36.1K
32.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.7K
$0.89Rp 15.9K
148.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82Rp 32.6K
$1.00Rp 17.9K
82.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08Rp 37.3K
$1.61Rp 28.8K
29.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04Rp 18.6K
$1.58Rp 28.3K
-34.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.3K
$0.41Rp 7,385
68.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10Rp 55.7K
$2.30Rp 41.2K
34.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.34Rp 400.8K
$19.82Rp 355.6K
12.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62Rp 47.1K
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-4.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65Rp 47.5K
$3.87Rp 69.5K
-31.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,795
$0.30Rp 5,301
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.19Rp 146.8K
$9.33Rp 167.4K
-12.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,070
$0.89Rp 15.9K
-49.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,228
$0.40Rp 7,206
15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.99Rp 107.5K
$2.18Rp 39.1K
174.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.6K
$0.77Rp 13.8K
6.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.7M
$23.2KRp 415.6M
12.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6KRp 584.7M
$25.5KRp 456.6M
28.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.4Rp 1.4M
$70.3Rp 1.3M
12.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.0K
$6.58Rp 118.0K
-38.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.04Rp 431.3K
$27.97Rp 501.7K
-14.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$80.6Rp 1.4M
$23.15Rp 415.3K
248.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.47Rp 98.1K
$12.41Rp 222.6K
-55.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$3.21Rp 57.5K
2.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273Rp 4.9M
$174Rp 3.1M
56.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,104Rp 109.5M
$3,096Rp 55.5M
97.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5Rp 942.1K
$34.18Rp 613.1K
53.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11Rp 665.7K
$36.35Rp 652.1K
2.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$65.7Rp 1.2M
26.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8Rp 1.3M
$75.9Rp 1.4M
-4.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$860Rp 15.4M
$257Rp 4.6M
235.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.4M
$122Rp 2.2M
377.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,932Rp 52.6M
$930Rp 16.7M
215.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,801Rp 32.3M
$151Rp 2.7M
1094.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,406Rp 43.2M
$1,135Rp 20.4M
112.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,957Rp 35.1M
$699Rp 12.5M
180.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$221Rp 4.0M
$181Rp 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.