😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $944 in Denpasar, Bali versus $576 in Manado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,661 in Denpasar, Bali versus $905 in Manado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,379 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,234 in Manado.
😐Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 64% more expensive than Manado, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali29% lower, Manado57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$1.21Rp 21.4K
88.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.46Rp 380.1K
$9.44Rp 167.3K
127.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.35Rp 59.4K
$2.99Rp 53.0K
12.04%
Cappuccino
$1.83Rp 32.4K
$1.62Rp 28.6K
12.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94Rp 16.6K
$0.32Rp 5,702
193.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,212
$0.24Rp 4,239
91.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$3.74Rp 66.2K
-47.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62Rp 46.3K
$5.69Rp 100.9K
-53.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.6K
$1.18Rp 20.9K
22.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98Rp 35.1K
$0.88Rp 15.6K
125.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.4K
$0.78Rp 13.9K
25.64%
Eggs
$1.91Rp 33.8K
$1.88Rp 33.4K
1.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.05Rp 213.5K
$8.05Rp 142.6K
49.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.49Rp 61.7K
$3.11Rp 55.2K
12.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.88Rp 174.9K
$7.77Rp 137.6K
27.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02Rp 53.4K
$2.84Rp 50.2K
6.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.1K
$1.52Rp 26.9K
-14.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30Rp 40.7K
$1.80Rp 31.9K
27.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.6K
$1.30Rp 23.0K
41.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.2K
$1.32Rp 23.4K
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.0K
$1.98Rp 35.0K
-8.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80Rp 14.3K
$0.90Rp 15.9K
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63Rp 11.2K
$0.48Rp 8,478
31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56Rp 45.3K
$2.31Rp 40.9K
10.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.31Rp 342.0K
$21.06Rp 373.1K
-8.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31Rp 41.0K
$1.76Rp 31.1K
31.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30Rp 40.7K
$3.16Rp 56.0K
-27.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,212
$0.32Rp 5,732
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.51Rp 133.1K
$9.64Rp 170.8K
-22.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41Rp 7,231
$0.57Rp 10.0K
-28.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39Rp 6,831
$0.37Rp 6,599
5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.48Rp 97.1K
$2.86Rp 50.7K
91.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73Rp 12.9K
$0.81Rp 14.4K
-9.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KRp 407.9M
$24.1KRp 426.9M
-4.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KRp 508.0M
$27.2KRp 482.4M
5.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$25.14Rp 445.4K
188.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.54Rp 62.8K
$4.27Rp 75.7K
-17.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.75Rp 385.4K
$22.96Rp 406.8K
-5.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.2Rp 1.2M
$18.34Rp 324.9K
271.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.49Rp 79.5K
$6.20Rp 109.8K
-27.58%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.3K
$2.57Rp 45.5K
12.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$236Rp 4.2M
$93.4Rp 1.7M
152.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,148Rp 91.2M
$5,239Rp 92.8M
-1.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.50Rp 823.7K
$60.8Rp 1.1M
-23.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43Rp 592.2K
$24.08Rp 426.6K
38.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.1Rp 1.3M
$95.6Rp 1.7M
-21.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.7Rp 1.2M
$72.4Rp 1.3M
-6.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$532Rp 9.4M
$329Rp 5.8M
61.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356Rp 6.3M
$100Rp 1.8M
253.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,767Rp 31.3M
$325Rp 5.8M
444.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,063Rp 18.8M
$191Rp 3.4M
456.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,465Rp 26.0M
$1,263Rp 22.4M
16.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,214Rp 21.5M
$706Rp 12.5M
72.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$333Rp 5.9M
$218Rp 3.9M
52.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
10
32.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 14, 2026
Last update for Manado: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $532 in Denpasar, Bali and $329 in Manado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $9.00 in Manado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $206 per month, with Manado cheaper across the board.
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
Denpasar, Bali vs Manado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Denpasar, Bali and Manado?
Denpasar, Bali and Manado differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($944 vs $576 including rent). Manado is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Denpasar, Bali or Manado?
Denpasar, Bali pays 53% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and Manado?
Rent for a central apartment: $532 in Denpasar, Bali versus $329 in Manado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Manado?
All in, you'll spend $944 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $576 in Manado – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and Manado?
A monthly transit pass in Manado runs roughly 28% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $576 in Manado versus $944 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manado but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Manado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Denpasar, Bali and Manado?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Denpasar, Bali or Manado safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Manado are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Denpasar, Bali or Manado?
Expats usually find Manado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Denpasar, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared