Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Manado Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Manado

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $940 in Denpasar, Bali versus $603 in Manado.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,630 in Denpasar, Bali versus $929 in Manado.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,320 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,255 in Manado.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 56% more expensive than Manado, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 30% lower, Manado 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38 Rp 41.3K
$1.27 Rp 21.9K
87.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.86 Rp 379.0K
$9.38 Rp 162.6K
133.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 Rp 57.2K
$3.14 Rp 54.5K
5.10%
Cappuccino
$1.90 Rp 33.0K
$1.66 Rp 28.8K
14.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 15.4K
$0.32 Rp 5,563
178.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,522
$0.26 Rp 4,530
88.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 Rp 33.8K
$3.67 Rp 63.6K
-46.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 Rp 43.6K
$5.87 Rp 101.8K
-57.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 Rp 24.4K
$1.22 Rp 21.2K
15.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.04 Rp 35.4K
$0.91 Rp 15.7K
124.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 Rp 16.7K
$0.73 Rp 12.7K
31.51%
Eggs
$2.00 Rp 34.7K
$1.82 Rp 31.5K
9.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.70 Rp 202.8K
$7.91 Rp 137.0K
47.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 Rp 59.4K
$3.08 Rp 53.3K
11.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.53 Rp 165.2K
$7.74 Rp 134.1K
23.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 Rp 53.8K
$2.82 Rp 48.8K
9.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 21.8K
$1.47 Rp 25.5K
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 39.6K
$1.86 Rp 32.3K
23.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 32.4K
$1.30 Rp 22.5K
43.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.0K
$1.37 Rp 23.7K
18.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 30.9K
$1.90 Rp 32.9K
-6.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 Rp 14.0K
$0.90 Rp 15.5K
-10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 Rp 9,999
$0.47 Rp 8,231
23.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 Rp 45.8K
$2.32 Rp 40.3K
13.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.10 Rp 331.1K
$28.87 Rp 500.3K
-33.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 Rp 40.1K
$1.75 Rp 30.3K
32.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 39.1K
$3.16 Rp 54.8K
-28.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,527
$0.32 Rp 5,602
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.43 Rp 128.7K
$9.60 Rp 166.4K
-22.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 Rp 6,918
$0.54 Rp 9,323
-25.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 Rp 7,189
$0.37 Rp 6,421
10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 Rp 93.6K
$2.96 Rp 51.3K
82.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.2K
$0.80 Rp 13.9K
-5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K Rp 402.6M
$24.7K Rp 427.7M
-5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K Rp 492.9M
$27.2K Rp 470.7M
4.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
$24.75 Rp 428.9K
195.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67 Rp 63.7K
$4.32 Rp 74.9K
-15.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.40 Rp 370.9K
$23.13 Rp 400.9K
-7.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.5 Rp 1.2M
$18.53 Rp 321.2K
275.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.67 Rp 80.9K
$6.12 Rp 106.0K
-23.69%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81 Rp 48.7K
$2.66 Rp 46.1K
5.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 Rp 4.1M
$92.1 Rp 1.6M
153.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,114 Rp 88.6M
$5,155 Rp 89.3M
-0.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.27 Rp 801.9K
$61.0 Rp 1.1M
-24.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 Rp 558.1K
$24.46 Rp 424.0K
31.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.0 Rp 1.3M
$93.4 Rp 1.6M
-20.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2 Rp 1.2M
$74.8 Rp 1.3M
-10.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 Rp 8.9M
$328 Rp 5.7M
56.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 Rp 6.0M
$98.8 Rp 1.7M
248.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,804 Rp 31.3M
$327 Rp 5.7M
451.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,064 Rp 18.4M
$186 Rp 3.2M
471.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,591 Rp 27.6M
$1,203 Rp 20.9M
32.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,226 Rp 21.2M
$782 Rp 13.6M
56.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$293 Rp 5.1M
$221 Rp 3.8M
32.33%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Manado: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Denpasar, Bali and $328 in Manado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 32% 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 $221 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 56% in total monthly costs ($940 vs $603 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 32% 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: $512 in Denpasar, Bali versus $328 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 $940 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $603 in Manado – a 56% 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 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 $603 in Manado versus $940 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 56% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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