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: $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, Bali 28% lower, Manado 56% lower.

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

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