😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Denpasar, Bali versus $580 in Manado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,681 in Denpasar, Bali versus $887 in Manado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,404 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,194 in Manado.
🌍Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 65% more expensive than in Manado, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali28% lower, Manado56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.41Rp 43.5K
$1.19Rp 21.6K
102.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.01Rp 397.4K
$9.03Rp 163.0K
143.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 58.7K
$3.08Rp 55.7K
5.52%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.5K
$1.68Rp 30.4K
7.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$0.32Rp 5,820
171.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,400
$0.26Rp 4,700
80.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95Rp 35.2K
$3.59Rp 64.8K
-45.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60Rp 47.0K
$6.00Rp 108.2K
-56.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 26.0K
$1.18Rp 21.3K
22.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03Rp 36.7K
$0.89Rp 16.2K
128.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.4K
$0.78Rp 14.2K
16.67%
Eggs
$1.97Rp 35.5K
$1.79Rp 32.3K
10.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81Rp 213.2K
$8.16Rp 147.3K
44.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42Rp 61.7K
$3.15Rp 56.8K
8.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84Rp 177.6K
$7.90Rp 142.5K
24.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09Rp 55.8K
$2.74Rp 49.6K
12.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31Rp 23.7K
$1.46Rp 26.3K
-10.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.9K
$1.89Rp 34.1K
16.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 34.3K
$1.34Rp 24.2K
41.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.8K
$1.39Rp 25.1K
10.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.8K
$1.89Rp 34.1K
-1.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$0.97Rp 17.5K
-15.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.6K
$0.44Rp 7,988
34.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63Rp 47.4K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
10.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57Rp 335.3K
$20.43Rp 368.7K
-9.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27Rp 40.9K
$1.77Rp 31.9K
28.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23Rp 40.2K
$3.18Rp 57.4K
-29.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,720
$0.35Rp 6,402
-25.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.54Rp 136.1K
$9.73Rp 175.6K
-22.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,948
$0.53Rp 9,499
-16.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,497
$0.37Rp 6,706
13.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66Rp 102.2K
$2.90Rp 52.4K
95.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72Rp 13.1K
$0.83Rp 15.0K
-13.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9KRp 431.9M
$24.5KRp 442.3M
-2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KRp 513.6M
$28.0KRp 505.3M
1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.0Rp 1.3M
$24.74Rp 446.7K
186.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.55Rp 64.2K
$4.38Rp 79.0K
-18.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.30Rp 384.6K
$22.31Rp 402.7K
-4.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.6Rp 1.2M
$18.33Rp 330.9K
268.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.47Rp 80.8K
$6.11Rp 110.2K
-26.84%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79Rp 50.4K
$2.62Rp 47.3K
6.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.2M
$94.9Rp 1.7M
146.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,006Rp 90.4M
$5,231Rp 94.4M
-4.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.68Rp 842.7K
$61.2Rp 1.1M
-23.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.96Rp 595.0K
$24.26Rp 438.0K
35.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0Rp 1.4M
$95.1Rp 1.7M
-21.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9Rp 1.2M
$73.3Rp 1.3M
-10.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530Rp 9.6M
$324Rp 5.9M
63.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347Rp 6.3M
$99.8Rp 1.8M
247.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,790Rp 32.3M
$333Rp 6.0M
437.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096Rp 19.8M
$191Rp 3.4M
474.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,426Rp 25.7M
$1,132Rp 20.4M
25.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,171Rp 21.1M
$698Rp 12.6M
67.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279Rp 5.0M
$210Rp 3.8M
32.93%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Manado: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Denpasar, Bali and $324 in Manado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Denpasar, Bali pays 33% 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: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $9.00 in Manado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $205 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 65% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $580 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 33% 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: $530 in Denpasar, Bali versus $324 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 $959 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $580 in Manado – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Manado?
A monthly transit pass in Manado runs roughly 29% 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 $580 in Manado versus $959 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 65% 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