😐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, Bali30% lower, Manado55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38Rp 41.3K
$1.27Rp 21.9K
87.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.86Rp 379.0K
$9.38Rp 162.6K
133.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 57.2K
$3.14Rp 54.5K
5.10%
Cappuccino
$1.90Rp 33.0K
$1.66Rp 28.8K
14.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Rp 15.4K
$0.32Rp 5,563
178.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,522
$0.26Rp 4,530
88.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95Rp 33.8K
$3.67Rp 63.6K
-46.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51Rp 43.6K
$5.87Rp 101.8K
-57.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41Rp 24.4K
$1.22Rp 21.2K
15.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04Rp 35.4K
$0.91Rp 15.7K
124.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96Rp 16.7K
$0.73Rp 12.7K
31.51%
Eggs
$2.00Rp 34.7K
$1.82Rp 31.5K
9.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70Rp 202.8K
$7.91Rp 137.0K
47.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43Rp 59.4K
$3.08Rp 53.3K
11.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.53Rp 165.2K
$7.74Rp 134.1K
23.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10Rp 53.8K
$2.82Rp 48.8K
9.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 21.8K
$1.47Rp 25.5K
-14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29Rp 39.6K
$1.86Rp 32.3K
23.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.87Rp 32.4K
$1.30Rp 22.5K
43.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.0K
$1.37Rp 23.7K
18.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 30.9K
$1.90Rp 32.9K
-6.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81Rp 14.0K
$0.90Rp 15.5K
-10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58Rp 9,999
$0.47Rp 8,231
23.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64Rp 45.8K
$2.32Rp 40.3K
13.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.10Rp 331.1K
$28.87Rp 500.3K
-33.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32Rp 40.1K
$1.75Rp 30.3K
32.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26Rp 39.1K
$3.16Rp 54.8K
-28.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,527
$0.32Rp 5,602
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.43Rp 128.7K
$9.60Rp 166.4K
-22.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.40Rp 6,918
$0.54Rp 9,323
-25.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41Rp 7,189
$0.37Rp 6,421
10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.40Rp 93.6K
$2.96Rp 51.3K
82.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.2K
$0.80Rp 13.9K
-5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KRp 402.6M
$24.7KRp 427.7M
-5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KRp 492.9M
$27.2KRp 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)
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$24.75Rp 428.9K
195.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67Rp 63.7K
$4.32Rp 74.9K
-15.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.40Rp 370.9K
$23.13Rp 400.9K
-7.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.5Rp 1.2M
$18.53Rp 321.2K
275.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.67Rp 80.9K
$6.12Rp 106.0K
-23.69%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81Rp 48.7K
$2.66Rp 46.1K
5.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.1M
$92.1Rp 1.6M
153.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,114Rp 88.6M
$5,155Rp 89.3M
-0.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.27Rp 801.9K
$61.0Rp 1.1M
-24.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20Rp 558.1K
$24.46Rp 424.0K
31.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0Rp 1.3M
$93.4Rp 1.6M
-20.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2Rp 1.2M
$74.8Rp 1.3M
-10.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512Rp 8.9M
$328Rp 5.7M
56.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344Rp 6.0M
$98.8Rp 1.7M
248.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,804Rp 31.3M
$327Rp 5.7M
451.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064Rp 18.4M
$186Rp 3.2M
471.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,591Rp 27.6M
$1,203Rp 20.9M
32.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,226Rp 21.2M
$782Rp 13.6M
56.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$293Rp 5.1M
$221Rp 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.
Denpasar, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared