😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $909 in Denpasar, Bali versus $559 in Manado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali versus $891 in Manado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,123 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,222 in Manado.
🌍Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 62% more expensive than in Manado, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali34% lower, Manado59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$1.38Rp 24.4K
61.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.92Rp 423.6K
$17.27Rp 305.9K
38.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.76Rp 66.5K
$2.75Rp 48.7K
36.73%
Cappuccino
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$1.84Rp 32.6K
-3.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24Rp 21.9K
$0.58Rp 10.2K
113.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,131
$0.24Rp 4,214
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94Rp 34.4K
$3.48Rp 61.6K
-44.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93Rp 51.9K
$2.75Rp 48.7K
6.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29Rp 22.9K
$1.42Rp 25.2K
-9.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86Rp 32.9K
$1.12Rp 19.8K
66.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.1K
$0.74Rp 13.1K
22.97%
Eggs
$1.76Rp 31.2K
$1.97Rp 34.8K
-10.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.64Rp 259.2K
$17.35Rp 307.2K
-15.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20Rp 56.6K
$2.88Rp 51.0K
11.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.81Rp 173.7K
$6.35Rp 112.5K
54.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04Rp 53.8K
$2.31Rp 40.9K
31.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.3K
$1.54Rp 27.3K
-14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.0K
$1.35Rp 23.9K
38.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.4K
$0.97Rp 17.2K
64.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53Rp 27.0K
$0.80Rp 14.2K
91.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 34.3K
$2.82Rp 50.0K
-31.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$0.75Rp 13.2K
4.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,346
$0.44Rp 7,716
-6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88Rp 33.3K
$2.40Rp 42.5K
-21.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.97Rp 335.9K
$20.77Rp 367.9K
-8.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87Rp 33.1K
$1.83Rp 32.5K
2.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50Rp 44.3K
$2.95Rp 52.2K
-15.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,267
$0.30Rp 5,249
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.36Rp 130.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,657
$0.53Rp 9,361
-18.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39Rp 6,963
$0.33Rp 5,770
18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.06Rp 54.1K
$2.91Rp 51.6K
5.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73Rp 13.0K
$0.61Rp 10.8K
19.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KRp 399.3M
$24.2KRp 429.3M
-6.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KRp 500.7M
$31.3KRp 554.2M
-9.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$54.2Rp 959.7K
40.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.96Rp 105.5K
$4.37Rp 77.4K
36.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.71Rp 296.0K
$13.92Rp 246.4K
20.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.78Rp 704.5K
$13.01Rp 230.4K
205.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21Rp 233.9K
$8.34Rp 147.6K
58.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 55.0K
$2.51Rp 44.4K
23.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$370Rp 6.6M
$127Rp 2.3M
190.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,428Rp 78.4M
$4,723Rp 83.6M
-6.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.11Rp 710.2K
$56.8Rp 1.0M
-29.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66Rp 542.9K
$20.47Rp 362.5K
49.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8Rp 1.3M
$71.3Rp 1.3M
-0.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9Rp 1.2M
$64.8Rp 1.1M
4.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585Rp 10.4M
$255Rp 4.5M
129.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358Rp 6.3M
$83.5Rp 1.5M
329.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,846Rp 32.7M
$308Rp 5.5M
498.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$922Rp 16.3M
$176Rp 3.1M
423.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,456Rp 25.8M
$1,197Rp 21.2M
21.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,214Rp 21.5M
$665Rp 11.8M
82.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$284Rp 5.0M
$213Rp 3.8M
33.62%
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 Denpasar, Bali: September 12, 2026
Last update for Manado: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $585 in Denpasar, Bali and $255 in Manado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 34% 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: $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $17.00 in Manado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $226 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 in Manado?
Denpasar, Bali and Manado differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($909 vs $559 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?
Average pay runs 34% higher in Denpasar, Bali, 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 in Manado?
Rent for a central apartment: $585 in Denpasar, Bali versus $255 in Manado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Denpasar, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Manado?
All in, you'll spend $909 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $559 in Manado – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $559 in Manado versus $909 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 62% 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